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Letter from Egon Schiele to Anton Peschka, 23rd Nov. 1914

Leopold Museum,
Vienna
Leopold Museum,
Vienna
India ink on paper
17.6×22.1 cm

Artists

  • Egon Schiele

    (Tulln 1890–1918 Vienna)

  • Anton Peschka

    (Vienna 1885–1940 Vienna)

Unfortunately not on display at the moment

Transcription:

November 23, 1914.

Dear Anton Peschka!
We have known one another for a long time – life has been painful for you, and you have learned from what you lived through. Times must change. There is one great flaw within you, and once you are rid of it you must surely grow. It is you who should be master, you should take charge. Those who live thoughtfully will progress faster. We must not be peasants bound to the earth; this alone should already set us apart from the others. – We must never ask for the past to return – for that would be regression. This is why I don’t want to stay with you here. Instead I will go to Berlin after the war, and there I will have the courage to start a new life. To this end I wish both you and myself insight, clarity and good luck!
Warmest
greetings
Egon Schiele

Object data

Artist/author
  • Egon Schiele
  • Recipient: Anton Peschka
Title
Letter from Egon Schiele to Anton Peschka
Date
23rd Nov. 1914
Category
Autograph
Material​/technique
India ink on paper
Dimensions
17.6×22.1 cm
Credit line
Leopold Museum, Vienna, Inv. 4510
Inventory access
Contributed to the Leopold Museum-Privatstiftung in 1994
Selection of Reference works
  • Christian M. Nebehay: Egon Schiele 1890-1918. Leben, Briefe, Gedichte, Salzburg 1979.
Catalogue raisonne
  • ESDA ID 154
  • Nebehay 1979: 713
Keywords
World War Ilifeautographfortune/misfortuneKrumauBerlinletter/envelopepaper (writing material)
Egon Schiele
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Provenance

Provenance research
Leopold Museum i
Dr. Rudolf Leopold, Wien (o.D.);
Leopold Museum-Privatstiftung, Wien (seit 1994).

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Search in collection

World War Ilifeautographfortune/misfortuneKrumauBerlinletter/envelopepaper (writing material)