Portrait of Franz Hauer (Bildnis Franz Hauer) from The Graphic Work of Egon Schiele (Das Graphische Werk von Egon Schiele)

Portrait of Franz Hauer (Bildnis Franz Hauer) from The Graphic Work of Egon Schiele (Das Graphische Werk von Egon Schiele) is a powerful print created by Egon Schiele in 1914. This specific work is a drypoint, one of eight prints originally comprising a limited portfolio, which included six drypoints and two lithographs, though the complete series was not published until 1922. The drypoint technique, utilizing a sharp stylus to scratch lines directly into a metal plate, allowed Schiele to achieve a distinctive, almost frenzied line quality. This process often results in a soft, burred edge around the incised line, giving the depiction of the subject, Franz Hauer, an intense psychological depth typical of the artist’s mature graphic style.

Schiele, one of the leading figures of early 20th-century Austrian Expressionism, executed this piece in 1914, just prior to the outbreak of World War I. His highly stylized approach disregards academic realism in favor of raw emotional power. The artist captures Franz Hauer, likely an associate or patron, not through detailed rendering but through stark, angular lines that emphasize vulnerability and psychological anxiety. Hauer’s posture is direct, yet constrained, and his face is dominated by sharp features and deeply set, questioning eyes, reflecting the charged atmosphere of Vienna’s cultural scene in that pivotal year. While the graphic work was created in 1914, its appearance as a collective portfolio in 1922 cemented its place among Schiele's most important oeuvre.

This print demonstrates Schiele’s masterful command of the drypoint medium, showcasing his characteristic elongation of form and emotional immediacy. The severity of the composition and the focus on the subject's interior life align the piece with contemporaneous movements exploring human subjectivity. As a fine example of Austrian modernist prints, the depiction of Franz Hauer continues to be widely studied. The original impression of Portrait of Franz Hauer (Bildnis Franz Hauer) is held within the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), recognizing its significance within the history of modern graphic arts.