Egon Schiele’s father was a station master who hoped his son would follow in his footsteps. Schiele began drawing with colored pencils on paper at the age of two. After his father’s death, Schiele was raised by his uncle, who recognized his talent and helped him enroll in the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts. However, Schiele was disappointed by the Academy’s conservatism and began to pursue art under the auspices of his lifelong mentor, Gustav Klimt.

At Klimt’s invitation, Schiele was able to participate in exhibitions where he was exposed to works by renowned European artists. His early work was influenced by Impressionism, but he soon developed his own unique style. Schiele’s distinct lines and distorted figures soon became his signature, leaving a strong impression on Vienna’s art scene. His unique methods of capturing human emotions and existential issues through his lines and colors established him as one of the most original artists of all time.