Cardinal and Nun (Caress) (1912)
Technique: Giclée quality print
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In this work, Egon Schiele depicts two figures in an intimate embrace; a cardinal in his distinct red robes and cap, and a nun dressed in a traditional black habit with a white wimple framing her face. Their bodies are entwined in a close, almost merging pose. The cardinal’s left hand rests tenderly on the nun’s cheek while the right is placed gently on her shoulder. The nun's hands are delicately positioned on the cardinal's shoulder, and one appears to also touch his cheek. Their faces are close together, suggesting a moment of profound connection or a deep emotional caress. The background is mostly dark and undefined which directs the viewer's focus to the vivid contrast of the red and black robes and the pale skin tones. The distinct, expressive lines and contouring typical of Schiele’s style accentuate the tension and emotional depth of the scene.
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Egon Schiele was an Austrian painter. A protégé of Gustav Klimt, Schiele was a major figurative painter of the early 20th century. His work is noted for its intensity and its raw sexuality, and the many self-portraits the artist produced, including nude self-portraits. The twisted body shapes and the expressive line that characterize Schiele's paintings and drawings mark the artist as an early exponent of Expressionism.