Egon Schiele

by Simon Wilson

The Austrian painter Egon Schiele (1890-1918) was a major figure in the birth of modern art. His uncompromising style of expression gave form to the anxieties and insecurities that beset Western culture at the turn of the century. In this beautifully illustrated book Simon Wilson discusses Schiele's role in the development of Expressionism and his vision of the artist in society.

Genres: Art

80 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1987

About the author

Simon Wilson is an art historian & retired Tate Gallery curator (1967-2002).

Reviews

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Schiele has slowly established himself as my favorite artist over the years--there's something about that distinctive combination of twitchy sexual energy, bitter existential anguish and the startling insistence of the exposure of the self that deeply moves me. Very little of his work is "beautiful" per se, but for me, somewhere along the way he often stumbles into the sublime. Though a rather slender collection, this particular tome served for me as the best introduction to his work, with short, illuminating essays by Wilson that cluster and contextualize Schiele's work in themes ("Themes of Life and Death," "Nude Self-Portraits: the Self, Metaphysical and Sexual Angst") rather than adhere to a strict chronology. I return to it often.

"He grapples directly with the reality he depicts, reshaping and re-creating it so that it becomes a new independent pictorial entity, a kind of super reality charged with the psychic power of the artist's vision, with his ideas, feelings and emotions."

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick but informative read. A good book for anyone wanting an introduction into the life and work of Schiele. The pages are filled with photos of his work, sadly quite a few are in black and white but they are still great examples of the amazing work he produced in his short life.