Egon Schiele
At twenty-two, Schiele was briefly imprisoned in a small Austrian[2] town. The judge burned one of his drawings in the courtroom. The charge was exhibiting erotic art in a place accessible to children, and the destroyed drawing was the only formal penalty, but the experience confirmed Schiele's sense of himself as an outsider whose art provoked the bourgeois world.
Biography
He was born in Tulln, Austria, in 1890[2] and was taken up by Gustav Klimt, who recognised his talent early and introduced him to patrons and models. Schiele's figurative style, raw, angular, defined by contorted bodies and unflinching self-portraiture, pushed Viennese Expressionism[2] further than Klimt's decorative manner had ventured.
He was beginning to achieve commercial success when the 1918[2] influenza pandemic killed his pregnant wife Edith. He died three days later, at twenty-eight, leaving behind a body of work that has grown steadily in influence and market value ever since.
Timeline
- 1890Born on 12 June in Tulln an der Donau, near Vienna.
- 1906At 16, enrolled at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, the youngest student accepted that year.
- 1907At 17, met Gustav Klimt in Vienna, who became his mentor.
- 1912At 21, arrested and imprisoned for 24 days in Neulengbach. One painting was burned in the courtroom.
- 1918At 28, exhibited 50 works at the Vienna Secession, his first major commercial and critical success.
- 1918Died on 28 October aged 28 in Vienna during the Spanish flu pandemic, three days after his pregnant wife Edith.
Notable Works
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Egon Schiele prints
Hand-finished archival prints from Egon Schiele's body of work.
Stein on the Danube, Seen from the South - Egon Schiele
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Portrait of Leopold Czihaczek - Egon Schiele
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Autumn Tree in Movement - Egon Schiele
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Fuchsia - Egon Schiele
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House with a Bay Window in the Garden - Egon Schiele
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House on a River (Old House I) - Egon Schiele
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Related Artists
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See all Egon Schiele prints →Frequently Asked Questions
Egon schiele art style name?
Egon Schiele was one of the twentieth-century art's most distinctive stylists. His works feature brilliant draftsmanship and direct portrayal of human physiognomy and character.How did egon schiele paint?
Most of the recent literature concerning Egon Schiele has focused on his remarkable draughtsmanship. This has led to unjustified neglect of his paintings.Is egon schiele expressionism?
Egon Schiele is one of the most famous Expressionist artists of early 20th-century Vienna. He evolved a highly personal art, focusing on the emotional states and hidden personality of his subjects.Is egon schiele public domain?
Copyright for Schiele Drawings is held by Dover Publications, Inc. The work was first published by them in 1994.What is egon schiele known for?
Egon Schiele is known for developing a linear and distorted style in drawings and paintings of overt sexuality that disregarded artistic conventions. He was extraordinarily prolific and an outstanding draughtsman.Who was egon schiele's wife?
Egon Schiele's wife was named Edith. She died in the 1918[2] influenza pandemic.Why did egon schiele die?
Egon Schiele died in 1918[2] at the age of 28.What materials did egon schiele use?
Egon Schiele studied painting and drawing at the Akademie der bildenden Künste in Vienna. He was known for his remarkable draughtsmanship.Why was egon schiele in prison?
Egon Schiele was imprisoned in a small Austrian[2] town for exhibiting erotic art in a place accessible to children. The judge burned one of his drawings in the courtroom.
Sources
Editorial draws on the following primary and tertiary references for Egon Schiele.
- [1] wikidata Wikidata: Q44032 Used for: identifiers.
- [2] wikipedia Wikipedia: Egon Schiele Used for: biography, birth dates, death dates, identifiers, movement attribution, nationality.
- [3] book Starr Figura, German Expressionism: The Graphic Impulse Used for: biography.
- [4] book n.hanh, GM Schielel 4C.qxp Used for: biography.
- [5] book guggenheim-guhe00solo Used for: biography.
Editorial overseen by Solis Prints. Sources verified 2026-07-02. Click a source for details, or hover over [N] in the page above to preview.
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