Egon Schiele : Portrait of Dr. Erwin Von Graff

This revelatory volume uncovers the significant friendship that shaped Egon Schiele’s most personal and provocative works.

Between 1910 and his death in 1918, Egon Schiele cultivated a close, formative relationship with Dr. Erwin von Graff—a Vienna-based gynecologist who would become both friend and collaborator. Egon Schiele: Portrait of Dr. Erwin von Graff is the first publication to examine this vital connection in depth, revealing how Graff’s medical practice and personal support influenced one of the most expressive and psychologically charged bodies of work in modern art.
Through Graff’s private diary and newly uncovered archival material, art historian Elisabeth Dutz traces a compelling narrative of creative exchange and trust. Graff granted Schiele access to his patients—pregnant women, newborns, and postpartum mothers—opening a world that Schiele captured with raw, emotional intensity. Their friendship, which began with a painted portrait offered in gratitude for a favor, evolved into a lasting exchange that deeply influenced Schiele’s exploration of the human body, emotional vulnerability, and the complexities of life and death.
Published in connection with a special exhibition at the Neue Galerie New York, this beautifully produced volume is richly illustrated with Schiele’s works from this period, as well as never-before-seen photographs and documents. It offers new insight into the artist’s inner world and illuminates a significant chapter in his development. A must-have for admirers of Schiele, this book deepens our understanding of his oeuvre and the relationships that helped shape it.

Dr. Elisabeth Dutz is Chief Curator of the Graphic Art Collection at the Albertina Museum in Vienna.