Egon Schiele ( * 1890 † 1918 )

Artist Egon Leo Adolf Ludwig Schiele

Immerse yourself in the expressive world of Egon Schiele – the master of Austrian Expressionism! His bold, intense portraits and figure studies capture the human soul in all its intensity. Discover his unique works as high-quality art prints, stylishly framed canvas paintings, modern posters, or artfully hand-painted artworks in your desired size!

Egon Schiele was born on June 12, 1890, in Tulln, Lower Austria, and was admitted to the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts in 1906. However, due to tensions with the teachers, Schiele left the academy just three years later and, along with other artists, founded the Neukunstgruppe, a progressive artists' association that turned away from strict academic painting and embarked on radically new paths.

Schiele found inspiration in the works of van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec, Munch, and Hodler, and his friendship with Klimt also influenced his painting. Yet, he soon distanced himself from the decorative Art Nouveau style and developed his own, relentlessly expressive visual language. His portraits and nude drawings, often characterized by angular, nervous lines, depicted the human figure in its vulnerability and abyss. This brought him not only recognition but also fierce criticism. In 1912, he was even briefly imprisoned for allegedly immoral depictions—an event that deeply shook him but did not diminish his artistic radicality.

During World War I, Schiele initially served as a soldier but was able to continue his artistic activities. During this time, his style changed: his figures became more monumental, the color palette stronger, and the compositions more structured. He created significant works like Family or The Embrace, which reveal a growing interest in human closeness and intimacy. Despite the war, his reputation grew, and in 1918 he was selected as the main artist for the Vienna Secession exhibition—a great honor that marked his breakthrough in the art scene.

However, his rise was only short-lived. In October 1918, his wife Edith died of the Spanish flu while heavily pregnant, and just two days later, on October 31, Egon Schiele also succumbed to the disease.

At just 28 years old, he left behind an impressive body of work that resonates far beyond his early death. His radical, often disturbing depictions of the human body influenced numerous subsequent generations of artists and make him one of the most significant representatives of Austrian Expressionism to this day.

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All images by Egon Schiele

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