Dr. Ernst Wagner

"Dr. Ernst Wagner," a 1918 drawing by Egon Schiele, invites us to contemplate a moment captured in time. This powerful portrait, housed here at the National Gallery of Art, measures 29.9 centimeters high and 47.2 centimeters wide. Executed in black crayon on light brown laid paper, the artwork draws our attention to the subject's intense gaze. Dr. Wagner, presumably the man depicted, is presented in half-length, his body slightly turned, yet his gaze directly engages the viewer. Schiele masterfully uses line and shadow to create depth and volume, bringing Dr. Wagner's features to life. Notice the details etched into his face – the lines around his eyes and mouth, the shadows accentuating his forehead – all hinting at a life lived and stories held within.