The artwork “Double Self Portrait” is a significant piece by Egon Schiele, dated to 1915 and originating from Vienna, Austria. Employing the medium of watercolor on paper, Schiele executed this piece during the height of the Expressionist movement. As its genre implies, the piece is a self-portrait; that is, it depicts the artist himself in a dual representation. This artwork, significant within Schiele’s oeuvre, currently resides within a private collection, indicating that it is not on public display.
The artwork reveals two images of Schiele, distinct yet interconnected through line and composition. The foremost figure gazes directly at the viewer with an intense and somewhat piercing look, characterized by sharp features and a furrowed brow. The use of line and color in this face conveys a sense of both depth and psychological complexity. Contrasting with the directness of the first, the second figure—orientated upside-down—intrigues with a more distorted and pained expression. This dislocation adds a disconcerting, almost haunting quality to the artwork, stimulating the observer’s perception and emotional response.
Colors are subdued yet expressive, a hallmark of Schiele’s work, emphasizing contour lines that trace the distorted shapes of the faces and bodies. These lines convey the tension and energy typical of Expressionism. It is evident that the artwork capitalizes on the style’s key aims: to evoke emotion and to convey the inner state of the artist rather than to depict a realistic visual narrative. The sparse use of the medium and the ample negative space allow the viewer’s eye to focus on the duality and rawness of the portrayed self-images. The artwork stands as a poignant and introspective exploration of the self, emblematic of Schiele’s intense and often tormented artistic vision.
