The Most Successful Period of Egon Schiele’s Career

Egon Schiele was an Austrian painter (1890–1918) known for his paintings, drawings, and printmaking. Although his father was from Mirkovice and his mother from Cesky Krumlov, he was brought up in Tulln, Lower Austria. He was fond of trains and spent hours drawing and painting them.

On the other hand, his father forced no time to demolish Schiele’s paintings. He was 11 years old when he started his studies in the city of Krems, and later on, he moved to Klosterneuburg for secondary school. He was called a shy child and strange to those who surrounded him.

When the painter was 14 years old, his father died of a disease called syphilis. After that, his maternal uncle took care of him. Acknowledging Schiele’s interest in drawings and paintings, his uncle allowed him to pursue in Arts and arranged him a tutor who was the artist Ludwig Karl Strauch.

Schiele’s Start of a Career

He applied for Arts and Crafts at Kunstgewerbeschule in 1906, which was situated in Vienna. The professor at the academy was German painter Christian Griepenkeri, who was very reactionary, for which Schiele and his fellows left three years later.

Gustav Klimt was an Austrian symbolist artist known for his murals and sketchings. In 1907, he showed his interest in the paintings of Egon and bought them in exchange for his paintings. He introduced Egon’s potential to painters and artists.

Shiele started his work in 1907, and his work had a glimpse of Klimt’s paintings. He had his first exhibition held in Klosterneuburg in 1908. He was impressed by Klimt and Kokoschka, which was shown in his work. Later on, he changed his style. His early career was from 1907 to 1909.

The beginning of the 20th century was challenging for Egon as in 1909, Klimt welcomed Schiele to the exhibition held in Vienna Kunstschau. He experienced the work of some artists such as Edvard Munch, Jan Toorop, and Vincent van Gogh. He was so impressed by their work. However, Schiele’s heroic work went to another level when he connected with a boldness: human sexuality.

He avoided conscription for more than a year before being forced to register for active military service. During his first posting in Prague, he stayed with his wife. Schiele was kept in a military exhibit hall along with other draftees.

A Successful Period of Schiele’s Career

Egon Schiele’s art career became triumphant when he stuck to emotional and fearless sexuality. He highlighted and re-established the sexual boldness from which his work became more admired by people. His successful career period lies between 1910 to 1912, when he had exhibitions in Prague, Budapest, and Munich. He also started adding paintings of children, portraits of nudes, and his self-portrait known as Kneeling Nude with Raised hands.

Admiring Features of Schiele’s Artwork

Legacy and style were the prominent features of Egon Schiele’s artwork. His work mostly contained paintings on Death, human boldness, discovery, and life. His drawings evolved the sexual directness of both genres. All about Egon Schiele’s art is that it has unparalleled views. His brief career enhanced the expression of capturing characteristics. His portraits were a sign of raw sexuality.

Influential Artist

Although Egon Schiele’s artwork isn’t widely known, it is still considered a classic. Many of his paintings are highly revered by collectors. Klimt was also hugely influential in his artwork. In addition to Klimt and his influence, many other artists of his time admired his art.

This influence influenced his early paintings, and his paintings of the Vienna Secession have become some of his most famous works. Some of the Egon Schiele paintings which hold specialty and express the boldness of his hands are described as follows:

Death and the Maiden (1914-1915)

This piece of art describes the love of true lovers. It shows the Death of his lover Wally Neuzil surrounded by Schiele’s figure. It manifests the taste of Death in the arms of a lover. His fascination with Death became a recurring theme throughout his life, and Death and the Maiden reflect his dark, depressive mood.

In this painting, a gaunt female figure clings to a hulking male figure of Death. This portrait conveys the separation of the love story. Clothes consume the figures, and Klimt’s portraits surround the environment.

Town Among Greenery (The Old City) 1917

Egon painted it during his tour to Europe during his career period. His work has most paintings from his native town where he once lived. Schiele’s landscapes enroll his radical mind in portraiture with his bird’s eye view.

Schiele’s choice of colors and sharp outlines in landscapes was known for his talent. It shows how much one could get himself into his world of paintings. He made this painting after being inspired by his hometown (Krumau), where he lived for a short period.

Hermits (1912)

It is one of the self-portraits of Schiele. This is a rare picture of Egon with Klimt, standing with each other. Klimt was known for his long black kaftans. In this picture, Schiele has also worn a black kaftan.

He was known for his work in modesty, and his portraits evoked younger artists. It also depicts the understanding between two men, as Klimt is close to him. This picture presents the depressive, dark past of the modern age. People tribute to him for this painting.

Conclusion

Egon Schiele’s life story was based on emphasizing graphic marks and linearity. He was an artist with extraordinary abilities, which made him more popular among people. We’ll learn how Schiele came to be, what motivated him to pursue an artistic career, and what he did to realize his potential. From this, we could have an understanding of the artwork and the importance of artists.

The Leopold Museum in Vienna has the most extensive collection of Schiele’s works. It includes 184 watercolors, drawings, prints, and numerous writings and texts. The museum also houses a collection of Egon Schiele’s artwork. And if you’re interested in buying a Schiele piece, it’s worth spending a little time browsing the museum’s extensive catalog of works.

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