Egon Schiele:
Holy Family (Heilige Familie), 1913
Gouache and pencil on parchment-like paper
47 × 36.5 cm (18½ × 14⅜ in)
Private collection
(Kallir P248)

This emotionally charged work by Egon Schiele is believed to depict the artist himself alongside Walburga (Wally) Neuzil, his companion and frequent model. Art historian Jane Kallir notes that the figures likely represent Schiele and Wally in a stylized interpretation of the Holy Family, blending personal intimacy with religious symbolism.

The composition features three figures closely grouped together, rendered with Schiele’s signature angular lines and expressive gestures. The central figure appears protective and introspective, while the others seem to lean into the embrace, creating a sense of closeness and vulnerability. The parchment-like paper adds a raw, tactile quality to the image—an unusual choice for Schiele, with only one other known work on this material.

Originally titled The Birth, the painting was later retitled Holy Family, a shift that invites symbolic interpretation. Rather than a traditional religious scene, Schiele’s version feels personal and grounded, possibly reflecting his own longing for connection, stability, or renewal during a turbulent period in his life.

The work once belonged to the prominent Lederer family, influential patrons of Gustav Klimt and other Viennese artists. As a Jewish family, the Lederers faced persecution during the Nazi era, and many of their artworks were lost, confiscated, or sold under pressure. It is believed that the painting later passed to their son, Erich Lederer, though the exact circumstances of its transfer or sale remain unclear.