The artwork “Cardinal and Nun (Caress)” by Egon Schiele is a notable example of Expressionism, created in 1912. This genre painting employs oil on canvas as its medium and is currently housed in a private collection. The work is characteristic of Schiele’s provocative and emotive style that often explored complex human emotions and relationships.
In the artwork, two central figures dominate the composition—a cardinal in red ecclesiastical attire and a nun clothed in traditional black religious garb. They are entwined in a tight embrace that conveys a mixture of tension and affection. The faces of the figures touch intimately; however, their expressions are concealed, as one figure’s face is obscured by their hands, while the other’s countenance is only partially visible. The contrast between their bright red and stark black garments emphasizes the passionate yet perhaps forbidden nature of their interaction.
The background is dark and undistinguished, which further accentuates the starkness of the figures and the sharp contours of their clothing. The overall effect is one that draws the viewer into a private and intense moment, laden with psychological depth, a hallmark of Schiele’s work and the Expressionist movement.
