Baby in Swaddling Clothes
1984
Egon Schiele wraps this tiny, weary-looking infant in a massive, mustard-yellow swaddle that takes up most of the page. Despite the cozy packaging, the baby's expression is pure exhaustion, complete with a pacifier and heavy eyelids. Schiele, a master of Austrian Expressionism, was known for his raw, jagged lines that captured intense emotion, but here he applies that intensity to the unglamorous reality of a tired baby. The bright, cheerful color of the blanket contrasts hilariously with the grumpy face peeking out, showing Schiele's ability to find humanity in even the smallest subjects.
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