Egon Schiele

Description: (Austrian Expressionist Painter, Draftsman, and Printmaker)

Egon Schiele was a famous Austrian painter, famous for being influenced by the works of Gustav Klimt and pioneering into the art of expressionism. He is still remembered for his outrageously bold and sexual drawings, the portraits of nude models and himself. The sexual undertone in his work was highly criticized during his time, was called vulgar and grotesque but today they are considered as masterpieces. He was born and brought up in Austria and lived all of his life there. His family did not approve of his painting endeavors and talent. But after the death of his father, his maternal uncle did him a favor by letting him pursue his passion and soon he came in contact with the famous artist Gustav Klimt who influenced him and facilitated his growth in the realm of art and expression. Schiele started with condemning the conventional structure of painting, got influenced by Klimt for a good part of his career and then moved towards expressing what defined him ––freedom of human sexuality and its bold portrayal. He had quite an exciting and adventurous life before he succumbed to his untimely death––he practiced extreme lifestyle with his mistresses, got imprisoned for seducing young girls, had to join the army during the World War I to become a guard of Russian POW, married a socially acceptable woman––all of these incidents influenced his paintings a great deal and helped in his evolution as an artist. He has been described as an artist who was stricken with the tragedy of his father’s death and his sole solace was to express himself in the dark side of sexuality, death and decay.

Overview

Birthday June 12, 1890 (Gemini)
Alternative names Egon Leo Adolf Ludwig Schiele
Died on October 31, 1918
Spouse/Ex- Edith Harms
Parents Adolf Schiele
Marie
Relatives Elvira, Gertrude, Melanie

Did you know

What style of art is Egon Schiele known for? Egon Schiele is known for his expressionist style of art, characterized by raw emotion, bold lines, and a focus on the human form.
What influenced Egon Schiele's artwork? Egon Schiele was influenced by the work of Gustav Klimt, as well as by the psychological and emotional turmoil he experienced in his own life.
Where can I see Egon Schiele's artwork? Egon Schiele's artwork can be found in various museums around the world, including the Leopold Museum in Vienna, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the Albertina Museum in Vienna.
How did Egon Schiele die? Egon Schiele died in 1918 at the age of 28 during the Spanish flu pandemic, just three days after his pregnant wife Edith Harms also passed away.
What was the controversy surrounding Egon Schiele's artwork? Egon Schiele's explicit and provocative depictions of the human body often sparked controversy during his lifetime, leading to some of his works being confiscated and him being charged with obscenity.
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