Egon Schiele (1890–1918) was born in Austria into a family with a railroad worker father. As a child, Schiele's fascination with trains led him to draw them extensively, despite his father's disapproval. After his father's death, Schiele moved to Vienna, pursued an education in art, and at 15, met Gustav Klimt, who became a significant mentor. Initially influenced by Klimt and Kokoschka, Schiele soon developed his own distinctive style.

Egon Schiele — The Embrace (1917)

From a young age, Schiele led a turbulent life, often involving women, including his younger sister. His models were frequently prostitutes and mistresses, reflecting his intense focus on the female form. This focus, combined with his passionate drawing style, resulted in unique, emotionally charged portraits, often featuring nudity. In 1912, Schiele's art led to his arrest on charges of public immorality and distributing obscene drawings, resulting in a 24-day prison sentence and the confiscation of many of his works.

Egon Schiele with Palette (September, 1906)

Egon Schiele and Wally Neuzil (1913) (fragment)

Egon Schiele (1914)

In the same year, Schiele painted “Portrait of Wally Neuzil,” a significant work featuring his muse and lover, who had previously worked with Gustav Klimt. Despite societal disapproval, Schiele and Neuzil had a passionate relationship.

Boy In A Sailor Suit (1913)

Mother And Daughter (1913)

Self-portrait with Wally (c.1914–1915)

Seated Woman with Bent Knee (1917)

However, in 1915, Schiele married Edith Harms, a woman from a well-off family. Although Edith was not a muse like Neuzil, she remained Schiele's wife until their tragic deaths from the Spanish flu in 1918. Schiele's last drawing, "Edith Schiele on Her Deathbed," poignantly depicts her suffering.

Edith Schiele on her deathbed (1918)

Martha Fein — Egon Schiele's Death Bed (1918) (fragment)

Egon passed away just three days after Edith's death.

Egon Schiele in Midjourney

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by Egon Schiele --niji 5

Schiele's art is characterized by unusual poses, sharp-edged shapes, and a lack of smooth curves. His subjects often appear confined, with body parts extending beyond the canvas. Despite typically using muted colors, his works often contain a lively, eye-catching element, whether in clothing, interiors, or hairstyles. Midjourney is adept at capturing Schiele’s distinctive style, including figurative distortions like elongation and deformation, as well as his unique approach to line and emotion. Incorporating Schiele’s name into a prompt can return images with intense emotional quality.

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gesture drawing by Egon Schiele --v 5.2

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Egon Schiele's painting --niji 5

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Egon Schiele's still life drawing --stylize 55 --v 5.2 --style raw

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woman's figure. Drawing by Egon Schiele --v 5.2

Unexpected Applications

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scenography by Egon Schiele --v 5.2

The versatility of Schiele’s style within Midjourney stretches well beyond his usual subjects, encompassing a broad range of themes: from fashion and zoological illustration to poster art, graphic design, and even modern sci-fi characters.

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Vogue magazine cover illustrated by Egon Schiele --v 5.2

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penguin illustration by Egon Schiele --niji

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The Fool tarot card illustrated by Egon Schiele --v 5.2 --style raw

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Egon Schiele's drawing depicting Ghost In The Shell character --v 5.2 --style raw

Blending Styles

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Angela Barrett's painting depicting medieval archbishop illustrated by Egon Schiele --v 5.2 --style raw

When combined with other styles, the influence of Schiele's name ensures that the resulting images retain his signature fine lines, lending an air of elegance and subtlety to the picture. The color palette often shifts to more subdued, pastel tones.

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Andrei Rublev's Orthodox icon drawn by Egon Schiele --v 5.2 --style raw

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photo by Daido Moriyama depicted by Egon Schiele --stylize 75 --v 5.2

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Grant Wood's painting mixed with Egon Schiele's painting --v 5.2 --style raw

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H. R. Giger creature depicting by Egon Schiele --v 5.2

Some may argue that AI cannot convey emotions, but Egon Schiele’s style challenges this notion. His Midjourney representation is deeply expressive and powerful. Schiele’s life was brief yet impactful, resembling a meteoric blaze across the sky. It’s remarkable that through Midjourney, we can continue to reimagine the works of such a talented artist.

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Egon Schiele's drawing depicting red cat at night --v 5.2 --style raw

Until next week,
— Maria, Midlibrary Experimentalist