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Egon Schiele: The Paintings
Obsessive, radical, disturbing: Egon Schiele
After Egon Schiele (1890–1918) freed himself from the shadow of his mentor and role model Gustav Klimt, he had just ten years to inscribe his signature style into the annals of modernity before the Spanish flu claimed his life. Being a child prodigy quite aware of his own genius and a passionate provocateur, this didn’t prove to be too big a challenge.
His haggard, overstretched figures, extreme depiction of sexuality and self-portraits, in which he staged himself with emaciated facial expressions bordering between brilliance and madness, had none of the decorative quality of Klimt’s hymns of love, sexuality and yearning devotion. Instead, Schiele’s work spoke of a brutal honesty, one that would upset and irreversibly change Viennese society.
Although his works were later defamed as “degenerate” and for a time were almost forgotten altogether, they influenced generations of artists—from Günter Brus and Francis Bacon to Tracey Emin. Today, his then misunderstood oeuvre continues to fetch exorbitant prices on the international art market.
This monograph, first published in an XL edition, is now available in a slightly abridged, more compact edition to celebrate TASCHEN’s 40th anniversary and features the paintings and drawings that retrace the fertile last decade of Schiele’s life. These works are accompanied by essays introducing his life and oeuvre, situating the Austrian master in the context of European Expressionism and charting his extraordinary legacy.
After Egon Schiele (1890–1918) freed himself from the shadow of his mentor and role model Gustav Klimt, he had just ten years to inscribe his signature style into the annals of modernity before the Spanish flu claimed his life. Being a child prodigy quite aware of his own genius and a passionate provocateur, this didn’t prove to be too big a challenge.
His haggard, overstretched figures, extreme depiction of sexuality and self-portraits, in which he staged himself with emaciated facial expressions bordering between brilliance and madness, had none of the decorative quality of Klimt’s hymns of love, sexuality and yearning devotion. Instead, Schiele’s work spoke of a brutal honesty, one that would upset and irreversibly change Viennese society.
Although his works were later defamed as “degenerate” and for a time were almost forgotten altogether, they influenced generations of artists—from Günter Brus and Francis Bacon to Tracey Emin. Today, his then misunderstood oeuvre continues to fetch exorbitant prices on the international art market.
This monograph, first published in an XL edition, is now available in a slightly abridged, more compact edition to celebrate TASCHEN’s 40th anniversary and features the paintings and drawings that retrace the fertile last decade of Schiele’s life. These works are accompanied by essays introducing his life and oeuvre, situating the Austrian master in the context of European Expressionism and charting his extraordinary legacy.
- GenresArtArt and Photography
512 pages, Hardcover
Published October 15, 2020
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105 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 20, 2024
Dit was precies wat ik wou, lekker veel bladzijden met heel veel werk van Schiele. Die handen! Die takken! En zoveel lijden uitgedrukt in elke lijn, vlek, streek, kleurgebruik. Confronterend, maar ook rakend en uniek.
“Den Künstler hemmen ist ein Verbrechen, es heisst keimendes Leben morden!“
– Egon Schiele [Oostenrijk 1890–1918]
February 7, 2025
Some of the essays are slightly nebulous but I still loved that book. Taschen is one of my go to for beautiful editions and this one didn't disappoint. The reproductions are stunning and they come with analysis of Schiele's works, of the Viennese art scene of his time as well as with a biography. It's rather in depth too. A stunning addition to my art book collection.
December 30, 2023
Opsežna monografija koja na intiman način prikazuje život umjetnika, ulazeći u dubinske analize njegovih djela i životnih odluka.
Mislim da bi za bolje praćenje bilo korisno postaviti biografske crtice na početku, a ne na kraju.
Sve u svemu, dobra izvedba sa popratnim printovima slika
Mislim da bi za bolje praćenje bilo korisno postaviti biografske crtice na početku, a ne na kraju.
Sve u svemu, dobra izvedba sa popratnim printovima slika
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July 30, 2023i really really like this for the art, it's a very pretty book; the actual essays range from decent and interesting to stuffy and obscure
Want to read
November 4, 2025Great illustrations, not-great writing; sexist bias
February 17, 2023
Re-read as part of my research for a University Visual Culture essay. An intimate, decorative portrait of Schiele’s life and works. Extremely immersive and beautiful. A wonderful gift edition book, as much a work of art as a reading experience. Reading it feels like visiting a gallery with a special exhibition just for me! A precious addition to my home library. Forever in love with this artist.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews