Artwork
Mountain Stream
Mountain Stream is a crayon drawing by Egon Schiele. It dates from 1917 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:in image, at bottom right: EGON / SCHIELE / 1917
About this work
Overview
Created in 1917, “Mountain Stream” is a drawing by Austrian artist Egon Schiele executed with crayon on wove paper. The work presents a rugged alpine scene where a narrow watercourse cuts through a mass of uneven stones, punctuated by sparse vegetation. Its compact size and spontaneous handling reflect the artist’s habit of rapid, gestural studies.
Subject & Meaning
The composition focuses on a solitary mountain stream set within a chaotic landscape of jagged rock formations. Minimal foliage, tiny trees and shrubs, emerges only faintly, emphasizing the dominance of the raw geological forms. The piece conveys a sense of untamed nature, aligning with Schiele’s broader interest in exposing the visceral undercurrents of the natural world.
Technique & Style
This approach typifies his early Expressionist phase, marked by exaggerated contours and a preference for conveying emotional intensity over precise detail.
Schiele employed a loose, uneven crayon application that yields a sketch‑like quality, with lines that appear hurried and unrefined. The marks vary from faint, almost translucent strokes to more assertive, scribbled gestures, creating a texture that suggests immediacy. This approach typifies his early Expressionist phase, marked by exaggerated contours and a preference for conveying emotional intensity over precise detail.
History & Provenance
The drawing originates from a period when Schiele was consolidating his personal visual language after studying under Gustav Klimt. Although specific ownership records are scarce, the work is documented among his 1917 drawings, a prolific year that saw him produce numerous studies in a similarly raw manner. It remains a representative example of his early exploratory practice.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Egon Leo Adolf Ludwig Schiele was an Austrian Expressionist painter. His work is noted for its intensity and its raw sexuality, and for the many self-portraits the artist produced, including nude self-portraits. The…
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