Egon Schiele:
Sick Russian Soldier (1915) – Kranker Russe
Gouache and pencil.
43.8 x 29.8 cm
Private collection
(Kallir d1767)

One of the drawings Egon Schiele created during his time enlisted in the Austro-Hungarian army reflects the shifting tone of his work amidst the turmoil of World War I. By late 1915, Schiele had been assigned to guard duty, a role that brought him into direct contact with the realities of war—including prisoners of war. Austria, deeply embroiled in the conflict, had captured numerous Russian soldiers, many of whom became subjects in Schiele’s wartime sketches.

These drawings mark a poignant transition in his artistic expression. The war, once distant, begins to seep into the lines and shadows of his work. They stand as silent witnesses to suffering, displacement, and the psychological toll of conflict. Far from glorifying battle, Schiele’s depictions of Russian POWs are intimate, humanizing, and quietly haunting—offering a rare glimpse into the emotional undercurrents of a soldier-artist caught between duty and introspection.