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EGON SCHIELE (1890-1918)
15
•
SECESSION 49. AUSSTELLUNG. 1918.
26x19
3
/
4
inches, 66x50 cm. Alb. Berger, Vienna.
Condition B+: minor restoration along unobtrusive vertical and horizontal folds; muted reds. Matted and
framed.
Schiele was one of the meteoric talents of the Secession movement. Unlike the colorful and decorative
work of the early Secessionists, Schiele’s output was darker and more intense, highlighted by powerful
erotic, figurative imagery. He can rightfully be considered one of the first Expressionists. As part of the
Secession’s 49th Exhibition, Schiele was granted an entire room to display the fifty of his works that
had been chosen. He also designed the exhibition poster itself. The intimate scene of “a group of like-
minded people, quite content in each other’s company” (Schiele p. 198), has various titles such as “Die
Tafelrunde” and “Die Freunde,” which leaves its meaning open to interpretation. But, as it was fin-
ished during the final year of the First World War, it is generally accepted to be “a sentimental tribute
to a disappearing world” (Denscher p. 59). The people around the table have been identified as various
artist friends of Schiele’s (who is seated at the top of the poster). The empty seat opposite him is said
to be intended for Gustav Klimt, who died about a month prior to the exhibition’s opening. It was this
exhibition which launched Schiele as an internationally important artist. Tragically, Schiele died dur-
ing the Spanish Flu pandemic later that year. MOMA 24.1957, Modern Poster p. 75, Denscher p. 56,
Weill p. 118, Masters 1900 p. 185, Verführungen p.38.
[15,000/20,000]