Portrait of Arthur Roessler (Bildnis Arthur Roessler) from The Graphic Work of Egon Schiele (Das Graphische Werk von Egon Schiele)

Portrait of Arthur Roessler (Bildnis Arthur Roessler) from The Graphic Work of Egon Schiele (Das Graphische Werk von Egon Schiele) is a key graphic work created by Egon Schiele. Executed in 1914, this striking drypoint etching was later issued in 1922 as part of a significant portfolio comprising six drypoints and two lithographs. The technique of drypoint, characterized by lines incised directly into the copper plate, allows Schiele to achieve the characteristic raw, nervous energy that defines his most powerful portraiture. This specific print captures Arthur Roessler, a prominent Viennese art critic, writer, and patron who was instrumental in championing Schiele’s work during the difficult early stages of his career.

Schiele’s unflinching approach to portraiture is immediately evident in this piece. Roessler is depicted with an intense psychological focus, the etching lines contributing to the highly expressive, often anxious energy typical of the Austrian Expressionist movement in the early 20th century. Schiele maintained a crucial professional and personal relationship with Roessler, who provided consistent emotional and financial support, particularly following the artist's scandalous 1912 imprisonment. This print captures the close bond between artist and advocate, serving as a powerful visual record of a pivotal figure in Schiele's inner circle and the wider Vienna modernism movement. The deliberate angularity of the figure and the stark contrasts inherent to the medium underscore the modernist aesthetic prevailing in Vienna just prior to World War I.

This exceptional example of graphic art demonstrates Schiele’s sophisticated command of the print medium. The artist masterfully utilizes the drypoint technique, exploiting the inherent burr (the ridge of metal left by the needle) to create velvety, rich shadows and dynamic lines. As part of a limited edition portfolio, Portrait of Arthur Roessler represents a crucial aspect of Schiele’s graphic output. This work, created in 1914, published 1922, is now housed in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), recognizing its enduring importance within 20th-century Austrian art history and the study of modernist prints.