Edith and Egon Schiele with Paul Erdmann, 1915

This photograph showing Egon Schiele (1890–1918), his wife Edith (1893–1918) and her nephew Paul Erdmann was probably taken in 1915 at the artist’s studio and apartment at Hietzinger Hauptstraße 101. There are two Versions: The present shot shows more of the background, with the reflection of the three of them visible in the studio’s large mirror, which also reflects the window on the opposite side of the room; the other version shows Edith and Egon in an embrace and closer to the camera. Particularly striking is the dress with broad stripes, which Edith likely made herself, and which Egon was especially fond of. He rendered her wearing this dress in works including Edith Schiele in Striped Dress, Seated, a masterfully executed gouache. Striped patterns were in vogue at the time, and were used for numerous fashion designs and accessories. Both Egon and Edith were interested in fashion and fabrics, and had close ties with the Wiener Werkstätte.

KJ, 2024