Portrait of Arthur Roessler

The Portrait of Arthur Roessler by Egon Schiele, created in 1914, stands as a psychologically incisive example of the artist's graphic work executed just prior to the outbreak of World War I. This significant Austrian work is classified as a print, specifically utilizing the drypoint technique on wove paper. Schiele favored drypoint for its ability to yield sharp, immediate lines, and a characteristic rich, dark burr that provides the resulting image with dense textural depth.

The year 1914 places the creation of the portrait firmly within the Expressionist movement, capturing the period 1901 to 1925 when Central European artists were focused on conveying internal states over external reality. Arthur Roessler was a critical figure in Schiele's life; as an early critic, patron, and biographer, he provided crucial support during the artist's more controversial years. Schiele’s approach here is not merely descriptive but profoundly interpretive, employing his signature attenuated and angular drafting to emphasize the tension and introspection of the sitter.

In this depiction, the lines defining Roessler’s features and form appear agitated and fragmented, conveying a sense of nervous energy that permeates much of Schiele’s output from this decade. The resulting intensity and directness solidify the work’s importance among Expressionist prints.

This piece is housed within the collection of the National Gallery of Art, offering scholars and the public access to a key moment in Schiele's printmaking career. As a major artwork produced over a century ago, high-quality reproductions of this portrait are frequently found in public domain art databases, ensuring its continued study and appreciation globally.