Egon Schiele in Profile with Clasped Hands, 1915

The present photograph shows Egon Schiele (1890–1918) in profile, sitting on a chair, his forearms resting on the left armrest, his fingers interlocked. His gaze appears meditative, he seems to be lost in thought. The portrait was taken in 1915 by the painter Johannes Fischer (1888–1955). Schiele, who was ultimately deemed fit for military service that year, corresponded with Fischer shortly after he enlisted. To Schiele, Fischer was both a colleague, who exhibited alongside him at the Secession, at Galerie Arnot and Galerie Würthle, as well as a friend who belonged to the circle of artists looked after by Arthur Roessler (1877–1955). Fischer photographed Egon Schiele several times, and further captured the artist’s wife Edith Schiele (1893–1918) as well as her sister Adele Harms (1890–1986) on camera.

MA, 2023