On April 13,
1912, Egon Schiele was arrested by Neulengbach police and was imprisoned for
twenty four days under the charges of “Immorality” and “Seduction”. During his
time in prison Schiele kept a diary, and was also able to continue to create
work. The charges, at the time, seemed
to be unfair in the artists’ eyes. Schiele claims that even though his work is
generally erotic in nature, the portraits of young females were erotic but also
had artistic merits. Below is an excerpt from Schiele’s diary that explains his
point of view in greater detail.
-Another Day, A May Day!
I do not deny it: I
have made drawing and watercolors that are erotic. But they are still always works
of art- that I can attest, and people who understand something of this will
gladly affirm it. Have other artists made no erotic pictures? Felicien Rops,
for example, made only such kinds. But one has never imprisoned an artist for
this. No erotic work of art is filth if it is artistically significant; it is
only turned into filth through the beholder if he is filthy. I do not understand how
it has happened and I do not understand why it has happened. I have not
corrupted children, for I did not show them these pictures, and as for adults,
they know these things very well anyway. Why, then? I am not at all an evil man!
I have not ravished, stolen, murdered, set fires-nor in any other way offended
the sensitive human “society” – except by my existence.
Schiele was released
on May 8, 1912, and while he was not indicted for any crimes of immorality or
seduction, during his hearing the judge burned the confiscated drawing as a
further punishment.
Photo & Information Credit
“Egon Schiele (1890 – 1918)”
Pinterest < https://www.pinterest.com/evesze/egon-schiele-1890-1918-was-an-austrian-painter/>
(May 1, 2016)
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