The artwork “Self Portrait with Arm Twisting above Head” is a profound example of Egon Schiele’s work, created in 1910. This self-portrait, rendered in watercolor on paper, encapsulates the expressive intensity characteristic of the Expressionism movement. The piece measures 45.1 by 31.7 centimeters and is classified within the genre of self-portrait. Currently, the artwork is part of a private collection.
This artwork by Egon Schiele presents a stark, contorted figure whose arm is raised and twisted above their head, suggesting a moment of intense emotion or introspection. The choice of warm sepia tones and stark black lines serves to accentuate the angularity of the body and the piercing gaze of the subject. The raw and unrefined execution of form is typical of Schiele’s confrontational approach to the human figure and emotion, rejecting the idealized forms of the preceding art periods for a more honest, albeit unsettling, depiction. The viewer is drawn into an intimate moment with the artist, confronting the vulnerability and complexity of the human psyche. The artist’s signature, a characteristic of his self-portraits, is visible at the bottom right corner of the artwork, underscoring the personal nature of the piece.
