EgonSchiele
Egon Schiele, born on June 12, 1890, in Tulln, Lower Austria, was an Austrian Expressionist painter renowned for his intense and often sexually explicit works, including numerous self-portraits. His distinctive style, characterized by twisted body shapes and expressive lines, established him as an early exponent of Expressionism. Schiele was influenced by Gustav Klimt, a leading figurative painter of the early 20th century and his mentor.
Schiele's early life was marked by a fascination with trains, a passion influenced by his father Adolf Schiele, a station master in the Austrian State Railways. His family background was diverse, with roots in Austria, Germany, and the Czech Republic. As a child, Schiele was considered odd and reserved, excelling only in athletics and drawing. His adolescence was tumultuous, displaying an unusual closeness to his younger sister Gerti and experiencing the loss of his father to syphilis at 14.
After his father's death, Schiele became a ward of his maternal uncle, Leopold Czihaczek. Despite his uncle's wishes for him to pursue a conventional career, Schiele's artistic talent was undeniable. He enrolled in the Kunstgewerbeschule in Vienna in 1906 but soon transferred to the more traditional Akademie der Bildenden Künste. There, he found himself at odds with the conservative teaching style of Christian Griepenkerl, leading to his departure from the academy after three years.
Schiele's artistic journey was a quest for personal expression and exploration of controversial themes, positioning him as a significant figure in the early development of Expressionism. His work remains influential for its bold approach to form and subject matter.