Characterized by its provocative intensity, emotional, subjective nature, and distinctive expressionist style, Egon Schiele created an oeuvre during a short life lasting only 28 years, leaving an indelible mark on modern art. The young artist soon proved to be a rebel, not only through his groundbreaking visual language but also in the social context of a time in Vienna that was determined by political uncertainty, economic instability, and moral rigidity. His encounter with Gustav Klimt and Viennese Modernism marked a decisive turning point for Schiele: he left the academy. He developed a bold new artistic style that addressed existential themes such as identity, sexuality, and psychological depth with brutal honesty.
The drawing “Seated Boy, from above” was created in 1918, the last year of his tragically short life. The works from this late phase of his career show an artist putting increasing emphasis on portraiture – creating both works in an openly provocative manner that earned him the hostility of Austria's puritanical society and more tranquil, contemplative studies such as the present drawing. From a bird's eye view, Schiele's boy sits casually cross-legged, his head slightly propped up in his hand, his gaze directed forward, and his body shown in the somewhat distorted posture typical of Schiele. The unusual perspective lends the scene a quiet intimacy: the viewer takes on an observant, albeit distant position – and yet, the feeling of closeness prevails. Schiele gets the maximum expression while keeping things simple: clear lines, just a few details, and minimal shading. Despite the formal clarity, the figure shows a deep psychological complexity. The boy seems vulnerable yet present as if he's been captured in a moment of reflection. The drawing impressively illustrates how far Schiele had moved away from merely imitating his models. By this point, he had developed a visual language that finds expression in our work in the childlike innocence and vulnerability. The drawing thus becomes a testimony to a universal human experience—and the legacy of an artist who, like few others, made the emotional life of his time visible. [KA]