Bildnis der Frau des Künstlers, Edith Schiele
Egon Schiele, 1918
About this artwork
Egon Schiele's *Bildnis der Frau des Künstlers, Edith Schiele* (Portrait of the Artist's Wife, Edith Schiele), painted in 1918, captures his wife with a highly sensitive gaze just three years after their 1915 marriage. A friend recalled Edith at a social evening, "completely covered" by her wild blonde hairstyle and shy insecurity, evoking the intimate, vulnerable essence of their young love. As a leading Expressionist, Schiele distorted forms and heightened emotions in oil on canvas—a bold 139.8 × 109.8 cm work that reveals his raw psychological insight. This portrait holds historical significance as Schiele's first painting acquired by a museum: the Österreichische Staatsgalerie at Vienna's Belvedere. Initially deemed too "arts and crafts-like" and colorful by the director, Schiele overpainted Edith's clothing in muted tones to secure its place. In 2018, technical examinations allowed reconstruction of the vibrant original, now displayed alongside the revised version in the Belvedere Collection. This dual presentation highlights Schiele's adaptability and the evolution of Expressionist portraiture amid institutional tastes. The artwork exemplifies Schiele's expressive style, blending personal devotion with modernist intensity, offering visitors a poignant glimpse into early 20th-century Viennese art and the artist's final creative years.