Nude Self Portrait (1910)
Reclinging Female Nude on Red Drape (1914)
by Egon Schiele
Leopold Museum
Egon Schiele was an artist that wanted to experience
everything in life, either inside or outside his field of artistic views. He
was able to that properly by modeling and portraying himself through his own
artworks while addressing deeper issues. In the piece Nude Self-Portrait, Schiele depicts himself as the central subject
of the Gouache, watercolor, and black crayon study. The depiction of the figure
is that of an unhealthy human form whose bones protrude through tight skin and
has the sunken face of a former (or current) drug abuser, much like the before
and after shots of meth users. What is more interesting about this piece
rather, is the composition. Schiele is well known for his work provoking a sort
of sexual tension and addressing that in various ways. One of the ways he
addresses this is by the composition he chooses, and by arranging the models in
certain ways. In his Nude Self-Portrait,
it is pretty clear what the intentions of the composition was, and that being a
very phallic Schiele. This type of composition is repeated throughout his career,
with his self-portraits and others alike. Another example of this, but on the
other end of the spectrum, Schiele’s piece Reclining
Female Nude on Red Drape depicts another figure placed within a provocative
stance. In this piece, it is clear that a reference to the vulva and or labia
is being made. By making these works, Schiele is successfully pushing the
boundaries, and stepping away and disregarding the way of academic art making.
Egon Schiele was an artist that wanted to experience
everything in life, either inside or outside his field of artistic views. He
was able to that properly by modeling and portraying himself through his own
artworks while addressing deeper issues. In the piece Nude Self-Portrait, Schiele depicts himself as the central subject
of the Gouache, watercolor, and black crayon study. The depiction of the figure
is that of an unhealthy human form whose bones protrude through tight skin and
has the sunken face of a former (or current) drug abuser, much like the before
and after shots of meth users. What is more interesting about this piece
rather, is the composition. Schiele is well known for his work provoking a sort
of sexual tension and addressing that in various ways. One of the ways he
addresses this is by the composition he chooses, and by arranging the models in
certain ways. In his Nude Self-Portrait,
it is pretty clear what the intentions of the composition was, and that being a
very phallic Schiele. This type of composition is repeated throughout his career,
with his self-portraits and others alike. Another example of this, but on the
other end of the spectrum, Schiele’s piece Reclining
Female Nude on Red Drape depicts another figure placed within a provocative
stance. In this piece, it is clear that a reference to the vulva and or labia
is being made. By making these works, Schiele is successfully pushing the
boundaries, and stepping away and disregarding the way of academic art making. 
Reclinging Female Nude on Red Drape (1914)
by Egon Schiele
Private Collection
“Reclining Female Nude on Red Drape, 1914”<http://www.art.com/products/p12968607-sa-i2207946/egon-schiele-reclining-female-nude-on-red-drape-1914.htmTop of Form> (April 23, 2016)
Photo & Information Credit
“Egon Schiele, Nude Self-Portrait” <http://www.allpaintings.org/v/Expressionism/Egon+Schiele/Egon+Schiele+-+Nude_+Self-portrait.jpg.html> (April 23, 2016)“Reclining Female Nude on Red Drape, 1914”<http://www.art.com/products/p12968607-sa-i2207946/egon-schiele-reclining-female-nude-on-red-drape-1914.htmTop of Form> (April 23, 2016)
Short, Chris. Scheile. New York: Phaidon Press Limited., 1997.
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