Dead Mother 1910

Egon Schiele made this watercolour and pencil artwork titled 'Dead Mother' in Austria. The piece shows a woman holding a child with an unsettling expression, and explores the dark side of motherhood. Schiele was interested in pushing the boundaries of what was considered acceptable in art. Here, we see a challenge to the traditional, sentimental portrayals of mothers and children. The raw emotion and stark imagery can be seen as a commentary on the social realities of his time, perhaps reflecting anxieties about mortality and the vulnerability of life. The Expressionist movement in Austria sought to express subjective feelings and experiences, often delving into the darker aspects of the human psyche. To truly understand this work, it is important to look at the historical context in which it was made and to consider biographical elements of the artist’s life. By studying the social and institutional factors that influenced Schiele, we can gain a richer understanding of the meaning and significance of this challenging artwork.