Houses by the River (The Old City) 1914

Egon Schiele, an Austrian Expressionist, painted "Houses by the River (The Old City)" with oil on canvas. Schiele’s landscapes often portray cities and buildings as living entities, reflecting his deep connection to his homeland and his inner emotional states. The dark, almost brooding palette and distorted perspectives convey a sense of unease, mirroring the social and political tensions of pre-war Europe. This piece is a psychological landscape, with the houses leaning in towards the water, almost as though they’re sharing secrets. Schiele often explored themes of identity, sexuality, and mortality in his work, and these themes also find expression in his landscapes. The old city, with its rich history, becomes a canvas for the artist's own struggles and reflections on the human condition. The dark river in the foreground seems to swallow the light, adding to the painting's feeling of desolation and contemplation. It invites us to reflect on our relationship with the past and how it shapes our present.