Egon Schiele is one of my favorite artists. I first saw his artwork on a book cover. It was the Self Portrait with Chinese Lantern Plant, 1912. His line work first caught my eyes, because of the emotions and powers that I felt in his works. It seems so fragile, but yet so powerful. Schiele is well known for creating a great number of self-portrait. Most of his early self-portraits, such as Self Portrait with Hands on Chest (1910) and Self Portrait with Arm Twisting above Head (1910), did not have a background but they still manage to be powerful and attractive. The usage of limited color shades, exaggerated body parts, and surrounding aura harmonizes very well in his paintings.
He was one of the most famous expressionist painters of the early 20th century. Gustav Klimt, his mentor and also the most famous painter, heavily influenced Egon Schiele. Some of their paintings are very alike in color, pattern, or model poses. In my opinion, Klimt’s works have more of a mature and soothing feelings while Schiele’s works have a deeper emotion, more dramatic, very rough and solitude.
My favorite piece of Egon Schiele is Tote Mädchen, 1910. Although the person in the drawing is not well balanced, it looks good in my eyes. It is extraordinary but very soothing. I love the color being used in the painting. Tote mädchen actually means ‘dead girl’ in German. It changes my ideas and feelings for the painting after knowing its name.
Egon Schiele’s paintings represent his youth, sufferings, and so many other emotions. He put his everything into the painting all his ‘short’ life, which is why his paintings are highly praised by the people. Although his parents were against him, he walked his way with passion, and desire. Egon Shiele is a person with so much talent, passion, desire, and emotion.
