Erwin Osen: Egon Schiele's Artist Friend

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.