Egon Schiele's Portraits: With a New Preface. (California Studies in the History of Art) [Paperback]

Alessandra Comini (Author)

Book Description

Series: California Studies in the History of Art | Publication Date: October 25, 1990

The meaning of portraiture in the egocentric and erotic culture of Vienna at the end of the Hapsburg Empire frames Alessandra Comini's definitive, lavishly illustrated study of the art of Egon Schiele (1890-1918), first published in 1975 and now available in paperback with a new preface and updated bibliography. Comini analyzes Schiele's work in the context of Viennese Expressionism, rising existential consciousness, and the unique ambiance of Vienna. The human figure forms the most compelling motif in Schiele's oeuvre, which is comprised of hundreds of oils and thousands of drawings. Numerous self-portraits record emotional states, reflect major stylistic changes, and provide a brilliant focus for this examination of his art and his life.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A solid achievement. . . . Comini examines these portraits in detail, relating them continually to the facts of the artist's life. This manner of interpreting Schiele's work is consistent throughout the book, so that the text is both a description of the work and a sketchy psychoanalytic biography of the artist. This is a very demanding approach to take to an artist's work but it makes perfect sense as a way to understand Schiele. The author manages the balancing act required of her with ease and grace, never failing to speculate on the connections between Schiele's work and that of contemporaries he knew, such as Klimt and Kokoschka." -- Kenneth Baker, Boston Phoenix

"A treasure. . . . Rarely will you find a book that so well combines psychology, social history and the aesthetics of art criticism." -- The New Republic

"Beautifully written, impressively researched and, above all, profoundly and originally thought out, Dr. Comini's amplified and dignified monograph is by far the subtlest and most enlightening analysis of Schiele. . . . Truly indispensable." -- Pierre Rouve, Arts Review

"Both vivid and definitive, based on a decade of formidable researches, a book of tremendous insight and captivating liveliness, a book of discovery, new facts, and absorbing interpretations." -- Marina Vaizey, London Times

"The best book on the Viennese wunderkind so far and maybe forever.. . . Egon Schiele's Portraits is not the circumscribed study suggested by the title, but a virtually all-inclusive biographical analysis of Schiele's art and psyche." -- John Canaday, New York Times Book Review

About the Author

Alessandra Comini is University Distinguished Professor of Art History at Southern Methodist University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 463 pages
• Publisher: University of California Press (October 25, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0520068696
• ISBN-13: 978-0520068698
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,711,599 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps the finest source of information on Egon Schiele, February 4, 2006

By 

Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Egon Schiele's Portraits: With a New Preface. (California Studies in the History of Art) (Paperback)

Alessandra Comini has published more books and catalogues on the art and life of Austrian artist Egon Schiele than any other writer. The personal favorite of this reader has been the succinct but intensely informative and visually documented 1976 volume simply titled EGON SCHIELE, but sadly that is out of print. But those who are absorbed by the idiosyncratic work of the artist of both bizarre life and bizarre paintings may rest assured that this large volume contains not only most of the information Comini has contributed tot he world literature, but also adds the bonus of a very close examination of the Portraits.

For Schiele nearly all of his paintings (with the possible exception of his gorgeously bleak landscapes) were portraits, whether named as such or no. But Schiele's eye was focused on the raw psyche Freud was unveiling and his preoccupation with the sensual, the erotic, and the dark dies of this subjects is what makes them unique. Schiele was a tortured man, not only from his own strident personal issues, but also form the public response to his art. An outcast, he never stopped painting the prepubescent girls he entertained in his studio, nor did he ever tire of his self portraits, works that range from the most savagely aroused eroticism to the frightened eyes of a man at odds with the art world and indeed with the world at large.

Comini suffuses this superb array of reproductions of Schiele's genius with straight forward, authoritative, non-judgmental and even adoration writing. The symbols and body gestures of his models are investigated and examined and explained. Comini is an art scholar but she writes with a style that reads like a novel. For those looking for a definitive basis of work on the art of Egon Schiele this volume is a fine starting point. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, February 06