The artwork titled “Landscape in Lower Austria” is an oil on cardboard painting by artist Egon Schiele, created in 1907 in Vienna, Austria. As an early piece by Schiele, it exhibits Impressionistic qualities, which is distinct from his later expressionist style. The artwork measures 17.5 by 22.5 centimeters and falls within the landscape genre. Currently, it is part of a private collection.
The artwork depicts a panoramic view of the pastoral countryside in Lower Austria. In this scene, the viewer is presented with wide, open skies that dominate the upper portion of the canvas, rendered with broad, sweeping brushstrokes that offer a sense of movement. Below the sky, rolling hills recede into the horizon, bounded on the right and left by darker, undulating landforms.
The middle ground introduces a cluster of lush green trees and foliage, providing a stark contrast to the various earth tones used to denote the fields. A patchwork of farmland stretches out, comprising a rich tapestry of greens, yellows, and browns that suggest the varied agricultural uses of the land. Occasional pops of red and white hint at the presence of buildings or farmsteads, integrating human inhabitation within the natural landscape.
Schiele’s use of color vibrancy and visible, energetic strokes imbues the scene with a lively dynamic, which is characteristic of the Impressionist movement’s fascination with light and its ephemeral qualities. Despite being a landscape painting, the emotional intensity and the gestural quality of the brushwork anticipate the expressive power that Schiele would continue to develop in his subsequent works.
