Station III: Old elementary school

He is to become an engineer. If his father has his way. He wants to be an artist. And he is prepared to fight for it. Armed with pencils and brushes, Egon goes to school. He paints and draws secretly under his desk instead of excelling at arithmetic and writing. The teachers complain. His parents are annoyed. The first year at grammar school in Krems turns into a disaster. Egon's father takes advantage of his social position as stationmaster in Tulln and allows the boy to transfer to Klosterneuburg. He continues to get poor grades there. But two teachers recognize his talent. Off to Vienna! Drawing teacher Ludwig Karl Strauch's reputation as a strict professor precedes him. He turns a blind eye to Egon. Together with religion teacher Wolfgang Pauker, an art-loving Augustinian canon, he encourages and challenges the young painter.

Olympus of the artists.

Autumn 1906: the portfolio is ready. The big day has arrived. But then the unexpected happens. The judges at the School of Arts and Crafts reject Egon's application. Lack of talent? Quite the opposite. Too talented for this school, is the unanimous verdict. He was advised to apply to the Academy of Fine Arts. The Olympus for every young painter. Strauch and Pauker put their connections to good use. The sketchbook is convincing. And Egon has overcome the first major hurdle on the way to the much longed-for life as an artist.