Self-Portrait (Selbstbildnis) from The Graphic Work of Egon Schiele (Das Graphische Werk von Egon Schiele) by Egon Schiele is an arresting drypoint print executed in 1914. This image belongs to a significant portfolio of eight works on paper, consisting of six drypoints and two lithographs, compiled for publication shortly after the artist's premature death. The technique of drypoint, characterized by the direct scratching of the plate using a sharp needle, generates a distinct burr that traps ink, resulting in rich, velvety lines that complement Schiele’s angular and nervous drawing style.
Consistent with the artist’s extensive exploration of self-representation, Schiele captures himself here with remarkable psychological urgency. The Self-Portrait isolates the head and shoulders, allowing the figure to dominate the composition. The execution is raw and aggressive, utilizing the reductive nature of black and white printmaking to heighten the sense of vulnerability and exposure. The intense lines emphasize the angular structure of the artist's face and the suggestion of a tormented, yet direct, gaze. This approach exemplifies the sharp, almost skeletal rendering style that marked Schiele’s works immediately prior to and during the tumultuous years of the First World War.
Although the work itself was created in 1914, reflecting Schiele’s mature Expressionist period, it was formally published posthumously in 1922 as part of the highly influential portfolio Das Graphische Werk von Egon Schiele. This portfolio was crucial in cementing the Austrian artist’s reputation as a master of modern prints in the years following his death in 1918. The print serves as an essential document of Schiele's unsparing self-examination and remains a key example of the intensity achieved within the print medium. Today, this vital print is housed in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), where it remains accessible for continued study.
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