The artwork titled “Portrait of the Artist’s Wife, Seated” is an expressionist oil on canvas painting by Egon Schiele completed in 1918. It portrays the artist’s spouse in a seated pose and embodies the traits common to the Expressionism movement. Measuring 140 x 110 cm, this portrait is part of the collection at the Belvedere in Vienna, Austria, which is also where the piece was created. The genre of this artwork is a portrait, capturing the unique essence of the subject.
In the artwork, the artist’s wife is depicted seated against a dark, indistinct background that contrasts with the brighter colors of her attire. The woman’s gaze is direct and engaging, with her eyes rendered in detail that convey an emotive presence. She is dressed in a vibrant blue blouse with a white collar and a voluminous skirt that exhibits a combination of whites, beiges, and hints of other subdued colors. The handling of paint is characterized by loose, expressive brushstrokes – a hallmark of Expressionism – which imbue the artwork with a sense of immediacy and emotional depth. Her hands are placed gently in her lap, one over the other, and their positioning adds a touch of elegance to the composition. The overall affect is one of intimacy and intensity, capturing the personality of the sitter in a manner that is both candid and thoughtful.
