Schiele (2019)

Egon Schiele (1890-1918) was a pioneer of Austrian Expressionism and one of the most prominent portrait painters of the 20th century. His work is characterized by restlessness and vivid colors, with his distorted figures defying traditional notions of beauty. Schiele initially ventured into the glittering Art Nouveau style under the guidance of Gustav Klimt, and later developed his own, rougher and unembellished confrontational aesthetic of sharp lines, obscene bright hues, and affected elongated figures. Schiele's portraits and self-portraits shocked the conservative ruling class of Vienna with unprecedented psychological and sexual intensity, reveling in erotic, naked, and disturbing poses. Many of Schiele's contemporaries considered his works ugly, but for many, they were unacceptable primarily from a moral standpoint. In 1912, the artist was even briefly imprisoned for obscenity. Today, Schiele is admired for his revolutionary approach to the human figure and for his direct and incredibly fervent, almost furious drawing style. This book selects the most important aspects of Schiele's work and presents his short yet fruitful career and his immense contribution to the development of modern art, which can be traced to the present day...