“Old Houses in Krumau” is an evocative artwork by Egon Schiele, conceived in 1914 in Vienna, Austria, during a period marked by the emergence of Expressionism. Schiele’s work falls into the genre of sketch and study, revealing his unique style that contributed to the Expressionist movement. This particular piece is part of the collection at the Albertina in Vienna, Austria.
The artwork presents a cluster of old buildings depicted with sharp, angular lines that suggest a degree of spontaneity and movement, characteristic of Schiele’s technique. The use of color is both bold and selective, with patches of vivid yellows and reds contrasting against largely uncolored spaces. This interplay of filled and unfilled areas creates a dynamic tension within the composition, drawing the viewer’s eye across the fragmented facades and the seemingly haphazard array of windows and doors. The absence of human figures adds to the focus on the architecture itself, emphasizing the materiality and textures of the houses. The buildings are rendered with a certain degree of distortion, leaning and intersecting in ways that defy conventional perspectives, a hallmark of Expressionistic interpretations of reality. This representation captures not just the visual essence of the scene but also seems to convey the psychological and emotional undercurrents perceived by the artist.
