Erwin Osen: Egon Schiele's Artist Friend

The first book devoted to a forgotten expressionist artist and the impact he had on his famous companion.
 
A multifaceted artist and charismatic figure in Vienna’s art scene, Erwin Osen (1891–1970) is best known today as Egon Schiele’s friend and one of his models. While their relationship inspired some of Schiele’s masterpieces, Osen also left his mark on expressionism through his work, which is ripe for rediscovery.

A true Renaissance man, Osen counted drawing and painting among his art practices, as well as stage decor and set design, acting, pantomime, singing, cabaret, theater, and filmmaking. He and Schiele shared a studio, as well as an interest in the experience of patients in healthcare settings. Both a biography and a chronicle of the fruitful interaction between two artists, Erwin Osen shines a light on a fascinating and underappreciated creative.

Erwin Osen: Egon Schiele’s artist friend as a fascinating discovery As the charismatic artist friend of Egon Schiele, Erwin Osen also left his mark on the key early years of Expressionism in Vienna. His multi-faceted relationship with Schiele reached an intensity that inspired Egon Schiele’s radical creative work, resulting in masterpieces of Austrian art. Erwin Osen was forgotten, but is now waiting to be rediscovered. Erwin Osen (1891–1970) was a companion to Egon Schiele who provided him with stimuli. He reveals himself to have been a fascinating all-round artist. He was unique, an “It Man” of the modern age. Stage decor and set design, acting, pantomime, singing, cabaret, direction from theatre to silent and talking films and camera technology, as well as painting and graphics – there was no limit to the forms taken by Osen’s art. It was at his side that Egon Schiele developed his own expressive main works. This first publication on Erwin Osen describes a unique biography and focuses on the interaction with the art of Egon Schiele.