Letter from the Publisher

Welcome to all returning readers and new visitors! I am Rebecca Katherine Levenson, the Founder and Publisher of ArtRKL. This week's Letter from the Publisher examines Egon Schiele's life and career.

 

Egon Schiele (1890–1918) was one of the most provocative and influential artists of the early 20th century, whose haunting, raw, and emotionally charged works pushed the boundaries of art and society. Though his life was tragically short, his contribution to modern art left a lasting mark that continues to fascinate and inspire artists and collectors over a century later.

 

Born on June 12, 1890, in Tulln, Austria, Egon Schiele was drawn to art early on. His father, a railway official, passed away when Schiele was just 14, a loss that would haunt him for years and echo in the dark, introspective tone of his later works.

 

Egon Schiele, Self-portrait in orange jacket, 1913, Albertina Museum, Vienna, Austria. Detail.

 

At 16, Schiele was accepted into the prestigious Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, but quickly grew frustrated with the rigid academic style. He craved something more daring and honest. In 1907, he met Gustav Klimt, the celebrated painter of the Viennese Secession, who took him under his wing and introduced him to the avant-garde art circles of Vienna.

 

By 1909, Schiele had broken away from the Academy and co-founded the Neue Künstlervereinigung (New Artists' Group), determined to develop his voice. His early works showed the evident influence of Klimt, but Schiele's style quickly evolved into something entirely his own—raw, jagged, erotic, and deeply psychological.

 

Egon Schiele, Kneeling Female in Orange-Red Dress, 1910, Leopold Museum, Vienna, Austria.

 

Schiele's obsession with the human figure became his signature, particularly the fragile, awkward, and sometimes unsettling body angles. He created hundreds of nude self-portraits and portraits of friends, lovers, and young models. His work often explored themes of sexuality, mortality, and emotional vulnerability, leading to both admiration and scandal.

 

In 1912, Schiele was arrested and imprisoned for a brief period after being accused of corrupting the morals of underage girls who modeled for him. Although the charges were largely exaggerated, the incident damaged his reputation and reflected the tension between his radical art and conservative society.

 

Egon Schiele, Self-Portrait with Chinese Lantern Plant, 1912;  Creator: Manfred Thumberger Copyright: Leopold Museum, Wien

 

Despite the controversy, Schiele's career continued to flourish. By the mid-1910s, he was exhibiting across Europe and receiving critical recognition. His drawings and paintings became more refined yet retained their intense emotional power.

 

In 1915, Schiele married Edith Harms, a middle-class woman from Vienna. Shortly after their marriage, he was drafted into World War I, though he was stationed in a non-combat role, which allowed him to continue painting.

 

The war years were productive but overshadowed by hardship and instability. Just as his career was reaching new heights, tragedy struck. In 1918, the Spanish flu pandemic swept across Europe. Edith, who was six months pregnant, died of the flu, and Schiele himself died three days later, on October 31, 1918, at just 28 years old.

 

Egon Schiele, Portrait of Edith Schiele in a Striped Dress, 1915 via Obelisk Art History

 

In his short life, Schiele created over 3,000 works on paper and approximately 300 paintings. His art was daring, vulnerable, erotic, and often disturbing, reflecting the anxieties and passions of a rapidly changing world.

 

Today, Schiele is recognized as one of the most important figures of Austrian Expressionism. His work has influenced generations of artists and continues to captivate audiences with its honesty, intensity, and haunting beauty.

 

Thank you for reading,

Rebecca