Die Aktion, vol. 6, no. 39/40

Die Aktion, vol. 6, no. 39/40 is a historically significant periodical featuring the work of the Austrian Expressionist artist Egon Schiele. Dated September 30, 1916, this specific volume is classified as a crucial vehicle for avant-garde literature and visual art during the First World War. The piece comprises a complete periodical issue, distinguished by the inclusion of a reproduction of Schiele’s work on the cover, complemented by an original woodcut print located within its pages.

Published in Germany, Die Aktion served as a central, if often controversial, venue for artists and writers aligned with Expressionism, often challenging established norms with radical political and cultural critiques. Schiele’s contribution of a woodcut demonstrates his engagement with graphic arts, a medium favored by Expressionists for its directness and suitability for mass distribution. The woodcut technique forced the artist to distill his emotionally charged subjects down to their starkest elements, resulting in powerful, linear compositions characteristic of his output during this turbulent 1916 period.

The dissemination of art through periodicals allowed artists like Schiele to circumvent traditional gallery structures and reach a geographically dispersed and politically aware audience. As a physical document, the periodical itself speaks to the historical methods of cultural transmission during the war years. This original inclusion of an actual print, rather than just a reproduction, elevates the artifact’s value as a piece of graphic art history. Given its age and cultural importance, certain prints and visual content featured in this historic publication are now frequently encountered in the public domain, making Schiele’s wartime graphic explorations accessible for scholarly study. This important volume of the periodical Die Aktion, vol. 6, no. 39/40 is maintained within the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York.