The artwork “Portrait of a Man with a Floppy Hat (Portrait of Erwin Dominik Osen)” is a compelling example of Egon Schiele’s contribution to the Expressionism movement. Created in the year 1910, in what is now known as the Czech Republic, this portrait is executed using watercolor on paper, showcasing Schiele’s distinctive style. The artwork is a portrait genre piece and, as of the last known information, resides within a private collection.
The artwork depicts a male figure donning an oversized, floppy hat adorned with a striped band that contributes to its distinctive appearance. The subject’s face is rendered with sharp, angular lines, and there’s a clear emphasis on the eyes, which seem to convey an intense and piercing gaze. Schiele’s use of line is fluid yet fragmented, commonly seen in his oeuvre, adding a sense of emotional depth and psychological complexity to the portrait. The color palette is relatively muted, yet the hints of red in the subject’s hatband and cheeks bring forth a sense of vitality against the otherwise earthy tones. Schiele’s signature and the year of creation are discernible at the top right, confirming the artist’s authorship of the piece. The overall composition is striking, with the elongated neck and exaggerated features typical of Schiele’s provocative style, which often challenged conventional notions of beauty and form during the height of Expressionism.
