Portrait of a Gentleman (Carl Reininghaus)
1910
Here we see Carl Reininghaus, a wealthy industrialist and art patron, looking incredibly pleased with himself in a white outfit that seems to be unraveling at the seams—literally, thanks to Egon Schiele's jagged, nervous line work. Created in 1910, this portrait captures the moment Schiele was breaking free from his mentor Gustav Klimt's decorative style into something much rawer and more psychological. Reininghaus was a bold supporter of the young, controversial artist, and Schiele repays him with a character study that feels both intimate and slightly unsettling, using intense patches of purple and brown against the stark white clothing to create a vibrating energy.
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