Kain erschlägt Abel by Egon Schiele

Kain erschlägt Abel 1905 - 1906

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drawing, pencil

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drawing

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figuration

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pencil

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expressionism

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history-painting

Copyright: Public Domain: Artvee

This drawing, "Kain erschlägt Abel" or "Cain Slays Abel," was made by Egon Schiele with pencil on paper. Look at the mark-making, it's really all about the line here, and the raw and immediate sense of the event unfolding. You know, art is really about a process, it's always becoming, never finished. See how the lines vary in weight, how some are sketchy and broken while others are bold and defining. The figures are built up from contours, not just outlines, which creates a sense of volume and depth despite the economy of means. The textural variations in the lines give the work a nervous energy. My eye is drawn to the figure of Cain. His body language is so immediate and shocking. It's not just about representation, it's also about the act of drawing itself. I think of other artists who have embraced this rawness, like Paula Modersohn-Becker, who was a contemporary of Schiele. Each drawing is like a question, never really answered, but always asking.

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