The artwork “Composition with Three Male Figures (Self Portrait)” by Egon Schiele, created in 1911, is an exemplar of the Expressionist movement of the early 20th century. Schiele, known for his raw intensity and the psychological penetration of his portraits, executed this work using watercolors on paper. Classified as a self-portrait, the artwork explores the representation of the artist himself in a striking and idiosyncratic style that is characteristic of Schiele’s oeuvre. Currently, the artwork belongs to a private collection, indicating its exclusivity and the esteem in which Schiele’s works are held by collectors.
The artwork features a startling composition with three figures that seem to depict different facets or emotional states of the artist, each drafted with contorted posture and intense expression. The figures do not adhere to naturalistic proportions or anatomy, highlighting the emotional over the physical reality which is a hallmark of Expressionist art. The use of watercolor imbues the piece with a sense of immediacy and fluidity, with the colors chosen to evoke a sense of psychological unrest or intensity, rather than to replicate the true hues of flesh and fabric.
The figures appear intertwined, and their gazes seem to engage the viewer on multiple levels, creating a feeling of discomfort or intimacy. The dominant shades of reddish-brown set against the sparsely filled cream paper background direct all focus to the anguished expressions and deformed bodies of the figures. Schiele’s line work is both deliberate and expressive, with the drawn contours bringing a certain sharpness to the convoluted forms. Overall, the artwork is a powerful display of Schiele’s inner world and his groundbreaking approach to portraiture that goes beyond mere appearance to unearth the depths of the human psyche.
