Egon Schiele: Drawing the World

One of the most important artists of the early twentieth century, Egon Schiele (1890–1918) is vastly influential—he ranks among the pioneers of modernism in Austria along with Gustav Klimt and Oskar Kokoschka. To mark the centennial of Schiele’s passing in 1918, the Albertina Museum in Vienna will be a mounting a large-scale exhibition from its extensive holdings of Schiele’s works, and this companion catalog to the exhibition offers a unique overview of Schiele’s development as a draughtsman and watercolorist.

Providing a clear picture of Schiele’s stylistic development over the decades, the book reveals his great, overarching theme: human beings’ existential loneliness. Viewed together, these works bear devastating witness to his inability to shake the despair of feeling fundamentally misunderstood. Schiele’s work continues to inspire artists, critics, and collectors today, and this book will offer a beautiful and moving testament to the continued power of his oeuvre.