The artwork titled “Self-Portrait with Black Vase and Spread Fingers” is a seminal piece by the artist Egon Schiele, created in 1911. This self-portrait is executed in oil on panel and exemplifies the Expressionist movement, known for its emotional intensity and bold distortion of form for expressive effect. The piece measures 27.5 by 34 centimeters and is categorized within the genre of self-portraiture. It currently resides in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, Austria.
In the artwork, Egon Schiele presents himself with an arresting gaze that holds the viewer’s attention. His face, the focal point of the piece, is rendered with angular, contorted features and exhibits a pale complexion against which dark, sunken eyes stand out. Typical of Schiele’s style, the use of line is expressive and deliberate, with distinct brushstrokes that accentuate the structure of his face and the splayed fingers. The background consists of abstracted forms and colors, including a fragmented depiction of books or objects stacked beside him, contributing to the composition’s sense of depth and disquiet.
The artist’s use of color is limited but impactful, with earthy and muted tones dominating the palette, punctuated by the orange-red of the books or objects at his side. Schiele’s signature can be found on the lower right, etched in the same expressive manner as the rest of the work. As a whole, the self-portrait is intimate, bold, and reveals the artist’s preoccupation with the human condition and the exploration of his own identity.
