Hindering the Artist is a Crime, It is Murdering Life in the Bud 1912

Egon Schiele made this watercolour in a private collection and it feels so alive with angst and raw emotion. Look at the way he’s built the image from a mass of earthy reds and browns, like he’s literally wrestling with the colours. The texture feels almost sculptural, doesn't it? Notice that small area of raw yellow emerging, near the bottom – a single mark that screams defiance against the somber tones. It's like a painterly scream, embodying the very sentiment of the title. It reminds me of his wider body of work, where he often uses distortion and intense color to explore the human psyche, pushing the boundaries of representation. You see the same kind of intensity in the work of Francis Bacon. These artists, though separated by time, shared a commitment to laying bare the human condition, unflinching and unapologetic. Art’s all about conversation like that. It's never about having the last word, but keeping the dialogue open.