The Unflinching Eye of Egon Schiele

Bonhams is to host a major exhibition of works on paper by the pioneering artist Egon Schiele (1890-1918) from one of the most extensive private collections of Schiele’s work in the UK. The exhibition will comprise of 15 artworks and will include works on paper deriving from the artist’s critical years of 1910 and 1911, as well as a very rare painting of Schloss Neulengbach. The Unflinching Eye of Egon Schiele: Works of a Private Collector will be on view at Bonhams New Bond Street, London, from Monday 31 October to Wednesday 16 November.

Frederick Millar, Bonhams Specialist, Impressionist & Modern Art, commented: “This show provides a wonderful and extremely rare opportunity to enjoy one of the most extensive collections of Schiele’s works on paper in the UK. Schiele’s work explores themes that are both universal and controversial – confronting identity, gender, and sexuality in a bold and original way. The years 1910 and 1911 (when Schiele was only 20 years old) are regarded as being the height of his creative output (he died in 1918 at the age of 28). We are delighted to be able to showcase some of Schiele’s most striking and evocative works from this period, from a remarkable private collection.”

Highlights of the exhibition include the 1911 work, Moa, which has previously been on loan with the Museum of Modern Art, New York. Schiele proudly identifies Moa in the inscription – a rarity in his early oeuvre and a tribute to the mysterious dancer who was one of his most important muses. The work is one of the most elaborate known examples from a series of drawings Schiele executed of Moa in 1911 – demonstrating a Klimtian elegance of line and bold use of colour. Also featuring in the exhibition will be a very rare depiction of Schloss Neulengbach, Austria. Schiele lived in Neulengbach in 1911-12 and spent time in the local gaol on charges arriving from his unconventional choice of models and the supposedly immoral nature of some of his works. Upon his arrest around 125 drawings were confiscated by police, one of which was burnt in court due to its brazenly erotic nature.

The exhibition will sit alongside and complement the auction preview of Bonhams’ multi-disciplinary auction, Expressionism: Germany, Austria and Beyond, which will take place on 16 November in New Bond Street, London.