Lesende, 1909
Egon Schieleexpand_more
Graphite on pale brown paperexpand_more
Bequest of Harry Drakeexpand_more 2013.35.672
Not on Viewexpand_more
Egon Schiele created many drawings with highly charged sexual imagery, but much of his output is full of tenderness. He made this delicate drawing while lodging with Johann Gierlinger, a blacksmith living just outside Vienna, Austria. Gierlinger’s daughter, Mitzi, recalled that Schiele drew her many times as they sat in the courtyard of the house. This and several other surviving drawings show her wearing her hair up, as was the fashion. In some places Schiele’s line is absolutely confident, like the back of Mitzi’s neck and back, and in others it looks searching, tentative, retraced, as in her hair. Mitzi might seem to be peacefully lost in her thoughts, but the clawlike grip of her firmly drawn fingers may communicate some tension.
Details
- Title
- Lesende
- Artist Life
- 1890 - 1918
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2013.35.672
- Provenance
- (W. Ketterer Auktion, Hamburg, 14 May 1975, lot 1748); (John C. Stoller & Co, Minneapolis, 1975-'). MIA Benefit Art Auction, sold in 1978 to Drake; Harry M. Drake, St. Paul, 1978-2012; Estate of Harry M. Drake; bequeathed to MIA, 2013.
- Catalogue Raisonne
- Kallir D.278
- Curator Approved
This record is from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator, so may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know
Zoom in on the left to the detail you'd like to save. Click 'Save detail' and wait until the image updates. Right click the image to 'save image as' or copy link, or click the image to open in a new tab.