Mother and Daughter 1913

Egon Schiele made this drawing of a mother and daughter with pencil and watercolor. It is an intimate portrayal of the relationship between women, but it also evokes a sense of discomfort. The image has a lot to say about Austria at the beginning of the 20th century. The composition and stark lines are evocative of the Expressionist movement, which was popular in Germany and Austria at the time. Expressionism sought to depict the world from a subjective perspective, distorting it for emotional effect. The blatant sexuality of the women was taboo at the time, which also broke with conservative ideas about the role of women. Schiele challenges traditional artistic conventions. By researching the political, social, and economic context in which Schiele made the artwork, we can better understand the ideas it expresses. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.