“Yellow City,” an artwork by Egon Schiele, was created in 1914 in Vienna, Austria. This oil on canvas work, measuring 110 x 140 cm, represents a cityscape genre within the Art Nouveau (Modern) movement. Currently, it is held in a private collection.
The artwork depicts a densely built, somewhat abstracted urban scene, characterized by overlapping and interlocking houses with distinct roofs of varying shades. Dominated by hues of yellow and brown, the buildings possess angular forms with sharp lines delineating their structures. The rooftops, some marked by chimneys, rise and fall in uneven patterns, adding a dynamic quality to the cityscape. The foreground displays a noticeable use of impasto, providing texture to the walls and roofs of the houses. Schiele’s use of dark outlines creates a sense of depth and enhances the geometric, almost mosaic-like appearance of the buildings. The background reveals a softer, more distant landscape, with the city’s expanse fading into the horizon. The overall composition invites viewers to explore the compact, lively arrangement of urban architecture characteristic of early 20th-century Vienna.
