Portrait of a Woman

Portrait of a Woman by Egon Schiele, created in 1910, is a potent example of early 20th-century Austrian Expressionism and a powerful illustration of the artist's emerging, unflinching style. Classified as a print, this piece is rendered using the exacting and demanding technique of color lithography. Schiele utilized the inherent starkness of the lithographic process to emphasize the psychological intensity and angular contours of his subject.

Dating from a pivotal moment in the artist's career, the portrait demonstrates Schiele’s decisive departure from the decorative Secessionist aesthetics popularized by his mentor, Gustav Klimt. Instead, the composition focuses on the raw, often emotionally charged interiority of the sitter. The subject, a woman, is rendered with a visual intensity that challenges traditional idealized representations, reflecting the era’s shift towards radical introspection and vulnerability. Schiele employs thin, agitated lines and a carefully constrained palette, features that became defining characteristics of his unique approach to human form and portraiture.

This print highlights Schiele’s early mastery of graphic arts, where his penetrating visual language was amplified by the precision of the medium. The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds this significant color lithograph in its collection, preserving a crucial record of Schiele’s contribution to modern art. This specific work, one of many compelling studies of women created by the artist, provides essential insight into the anxieties and expressive fervor of the era. Due to the historical age and broad dissemination of his work, high-quality images of studies like Portrait of a Woman are frequently available through public domain initiatives worldwide, allowing broader access to these foundational modern prints.