Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Visiting Philadelphia Museum of Art recently I was stopped by Egon Schiele's work


Danaë, 1909, by Egon Schiele

He and Gustav Klimt play with the flatness and decorative motives in their compositions. The rich and vibrant backgrounds overwhelm us while the sensual, but flat body is subtly camouflaged.

Compare Gustav Klimt version of the same name, that possibly inspired Schiele.


Danaë, 1907, Gustav Klimt

My other favorite by Schiele:


Self-Portrait 1910, by Egon Schiele


Girl with Black Hair 1911, by Egon Schiele

The directness of image, the strength of line and the fragmentary quality of his images draws me in as well as pushes me away.