Egon Schiele

Galerie Würthle, Vienna

Billy Wilder, Los Angeles (acquired from the above in 1960 and sold: Christie's, Los Angeles, June 7, 2000, lot 18)

Acquired at the above sale by the family of the present owner

Santa Barbara, University of California Art Gallery, Selections from the Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Billy Wilder, 1966, no. 54

 

Eros, February, 1925, illustrated p. 37

Jane Kallir, Egon Schiele: The Complete Works, New York, 1998, no. 1116, illustrated p. 476

This work is in very good condition. Work is executed on cream wove paper, hinged to a mat at the top corners. The medium is fresh and well-preserved. There is stippling on the sheet that may be the result of a fixative or simply the aging of the support. There are no tears or abrasions. The verso corners have visible glue residue. Otherwise fine.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Zwei Freundinnen is a fine example of Egon Schiele's figural works from 1912. In early 1911, Schiele often outlined his figures with white gouache for added emphasis, a stylistic continuation from his works of 1910. Towards the end of 1911, he moved away from these gouache outlines, allowing his figures to exist in an undefined space. Jane Kallir addresses this separation: "Schiele refused to fix his nudes in a clearly defined space. He adopted the practice of drawing models from above, perched on a high stool or ladder. By eliminating all traces of a three-dimensional background setting in the resultant compositions, and signing drawings of recumbent figures as verticals, he created a profound sense of spatial dislocation" (Jane Kallir, Egon Schiele Drawings & Watercolors, New York, 2003, pp. 140-41).

Zwei Freundinnen depicts two female nudes, delineated by strong lines of pencil and highlights of watercolor, their touseled hair emphasized in gouache. Kallir speaks to Schiele's development throughout 1912: "Over the course of 1912, however, Schiele's approach gradually toughened. Softer leads yielded darker, more substantial lines, and his forms became more angular. He mixed less water with his watercolors, or combined water-color with denser, drier gouache. This allowed him once again to stress contrast between thickly brushed areas, such as hair or clothing, and wash-tinted flesh." (Ibid, pp. 191-92)

Zwei Freundinnen was in the collection of Billy Wilder, the acclaimed filmmaker, screenwriter and producer whose films, such as Sunset Boulevard, Some Like it Hot, and The Apartment remain hallmarks of Hollywood's golden age. His important art collection included several other works by Schiele as well as works by Picasso, Paul Klee, Alexander Calder and other modern masters.