Egon Schiele: Portrait of Dr. Erwin von Graff

This unprecedented exhibition considers the relationship between Egon Schiele (1890-1918) and Dr. Erwin von Graff (1878-1952), exploring how the doctor's medical practice and personal support of his artist friend influenced one of the most expressive and psychologically charged bodies of work in modern art. Between 1910 and his death in 1918, Egon Schiele cultivated a close, formative relationship with Dr. Erwin von Graff —a Vienna-based surgeon and gynecologist who became both friend and collaborator. This is the first exhibition to examine this vital connection. Their friendship began as the result of a favor—Graff assisted with the birth of a child by an acquaintance of the artist (Schiele himself was not the father), Liliana Amon (1892-1966). As an expression of gratitude, Schiele painted a portrait of the doctor. This contact evolved into a lasting exchange that deeply influenced Schiele's exploration of the human body, emotional vulnerability, and the complexities of life and death. Graff granted Schiele access to the private realm of patients at the hospital, and the latter went on to create searing and highly expressive renderings of the women and newborn babies that he encountered, capturing these typically overlooked individuals with raw, emotional intensity. This experience expanded into depictions of children and teenagers, especially during the years between 1910 and 1912. Graff was among the first to recognize Schiele's tremendous artistic potential and amassed a small collection of works by the artist.