Russian Prisoner of War with Fur Hat 1915

Egon Schiele’s drawing, *Russian Prisoner of War with Fur Hat,* captures a poignant moment during a time of immense upheaval. Schiele made this drawing during World War I. As a soldier himself, he was stationed in a prisoner-of-war camp where he sketched Russian soldiers. Rather than portraying the man as a defeated enemy, Schiele imbues him with a quiet dignity. The detailed rendering of the fur hat and the proud stance of the figure offer a glimpse into the man's identity. It is juxtaposed against his captivity, a situation of lost freedom and displacement. The soft lines and muted tones evoke a sense of melancholy and introspection, inviting us to reflect on the human cost of war. Schiele’s choice to focus on the individual, rather than the collective, speaks to his broader artistic concerns with identity, and the inner lives of his subjects. He invites us to consider the emotional and personal dimensions of a man caught in the throes of historical conflict.