Vorstandskanzlei der k. u. k. Konsumanstalt Wien 1917

Egon Schiele made this line drawing, Vorstandskanzlei der k. u. k. Konsumanstalt Wien, with what looks like pencil on paper. I can almost hear the scratching of the pencil as he laid down these lines. The room in the drawing comes to life through these linear marks; the details of the furniture, window, and map on the wall offer a glimpse into a space, a place of work. I imagine Schiele sitting in the corner sketching, trying to capture this scene, observing the light filtering through the curtains. The map in the background reminds me of how spaces connect to each other, even beyond the confines of the room. The simple gestures are loaded with intention. There is a sense of exchange happening between artists like Schiele and those who came before him. Ultimately, this little drawing becomes an act of embodied expression, echoing a moment in Schiele’s life.