Egon Schiele:
Lovers – Self-Portrait with Wally, 1915 (Liebespaar (Selbstdarstellung mit Wally)
Gouache and pencil on paper
47.4 × 30.5 cm (18 5/8 × 12 in.)
Auctioned at Sotheby’s in 2013 for £7,881,250
(Kallir d1784)

In this poignant double portrait, Egon Schiele captures the emotional turmoil surrounding the end of his relationship with Walpurga (Wally) Neuzil. Introduced to Schiele by Gustav Klimt, Wally quickly became his favored model and muse. In the spring of 1911, the couple relocated from Vienna to Krumau (now Český Krumlov in the Czech Republic), Schiele’s mother’s hometown, where they lived in a modest garden house.

Krumau’s distance from Schiele’s domineering uncle, Leopold Czihaczek, and its picturesque architecture initially appealed to the artist. However, tensions arose when Schiele was seen sketching a nude model in their garden, provoking outrage among the conservative locals. The couple subsequently moved to Neulengbach, about twenty miles west of Vienna, in search of a quieter life.

Sadly, Neulengbach did not provide the sanctuary they had hoped for. Schiele was falsely accused of several crimes, including kidnapping, and was imprisoned while awaiting trial. Throughout this ordeal, Wally remained steadfastly supportive—unlike many of Schiele’s friends, though a few did assist in building his defense.

After 24 days in jail, Schiele was acquitted. It was revealed that the girl involved had run away from her parents—a retired naval officer and his wife—and sought refuge with Schiele and Wally, who ultimately returned her safely. The double portraits Schiele created following his release reflect his profound emotional bond with Wally.

Their eventual separation was deeply painful for both. This anguish is palpable in Liebespaar, a drawing that serves as a testament to the loss of Wally. Around this time, Schiele began courting two sisters, Edith and Adele Harms, who lived across from his studio on Hietzinger Hauptstraße. He ultimately married the younger sister, Edith, on June 17, 1915. This work marks the end of an era—Schiele’s decision to choose a middle-class bride over Wally, the “street girl,” left a lasting emotional imprint, immortalized in this intimate and sorrowful portrait.