Reclining Male Nude by Egon Schiele, 1910, watercolor

Egon Schiele (1890-1918) was an Austrian painter known for his expressive and often controversial works. He was a protégé of Gustav Klimt and a member of the Vienna Secession. Schiele's art is characterised by distorted figures, bold lines and intense colours. He often depicted the human form in unconventional poses and explored themes of sexuality, death and the human psyche. Despite his short career, Schiele produced a significant body of work that continues to influence contemporary art. He died at the age of 28 during the Spanish flu pandemic.