Postcard from Edith Schiele to Marie Schiele, on the verso of a photograph: Egon Schiele in a military coat with a comrade, standing, undated

At the beginning of World War I, Egon Schiele (1890—1918) was initially spared active duty owing to his delicate constitution; he was twice deemed unfit for service. During another physical examination on 31st May 1915, Schiele was declared fit for duty, and had to enlist shortly afterwards, on 21st June, for his basic military training in Prague. Schiele made it clear in letters to his friends and family that he did not like life as a soldier. In a letter to his mother, dated 10th July, he wrote: “[…] I have now been a soldier for 14 days – I am doing supremely badly […].” That very emotion can also be read in his expression in this photograph – with an unsmiling and absent-minded look, Schiele is gazing to the left into the distance, dressed in a military coat and accompanied by one of his comrades. His usually highly expressive face appears devoid of emotion, showing us an entirely different side to the artist.

Transcription on the reverse:

Dear Mother,
can you imagine, Egon was examined today – and was not kept
– can you imagine how fortunate this is
I am so very glad, [writing redacted].
Could Gerti [Gertrude Schiele] come by this week in the evening
with little Toni, Egon would benefit enormously from seeing him
Give my very best to Mela. [Melanie] and Gerti [Gertrude Schiele]
Yours, Edith

[Address block:]
To Mrs. Marie Schiele
Vienna XIII
Linzerstr[aße] 403

LVD, 2024