Poster for the 49th Exhibition of the Vienna Secession (Secession 49. Ausstellung)

The Poster for the 49th Exhibition of the Vienna Secession (Secession 49. Ausstellung) by Egon Schiele is a defining work of Austrian graphic art created in 1918. This pivotal piece, executed as a lithographed poster, served to advertise the exhibition that cemented Schiele’s position as the leading figure of Viennese Modernism following the death of Gustav Klimt earlier that year. Schiele masterfully translated his intensely expressive drawing style into the print medium, allowing for wide public dissemination of his aesthetic vision.

The design of the 1918 poster is highly stylized, featuring simplified forms and Schiele’s characteristic use of nervous, angular line work. Schiele originally intended the centerpiece of the poster to be a self-portrait, though for publication purposes, the image was famously altered to include the exhibition text overlaying the figure's chest, turning the personal portrait into an institutional announcement. This fusion of Expressionist angst with the decorative flatness of the Secession movement captures the conflicting forces defining Austrian art during the final year of World War I. The poster itself functions as both a declaration of the artist's ascendance and a poignant reflection of the turbulent period.

Schiele utilized the specific techniques of lithography to create bold, legible contrasts suitable for public display, highlighting the importance of prints in early twentieth-century artistic communication. This work is classified as a significant historical print document detailing the state of the Viennese art world just prior to the collapse of the Habsburg Empire. Today, this influential piece of graphic arts history, representing a critical moment in 1918 Austrian culture, is held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, reflecting the enduring significance of Schiele’s contribution to international modern art.