Egon Schiele:
Portrait of a Woman (Lilly Steiner) (Porträt einer Frau (Lilly Steiner), 1918
Watercolor and black crayon on paper (possibly with additional coloring by another hand)
44.1 × 28.9 cm
Auctioned at Sotheby’s in 2015
(Kallir d2210)

This intimate portrait of Lilly Steiner was created during the final year of Egon Schiele’s life—a time marked by both artistic ambition and personal tragedy. Lilly Steiner (1884–1962) was herself an artist and a well-known figure in Vienna’s cultural scene. Together with her husband, Hugo Steiner, she supported the architect Adolf Loos, who designed their home, and maintained close ties with many of the city’s leading creatives, including Schiele.

The portrait sittings began in March 1918 and continued through early summer, resuming in September after the family returned from holiday. Schiele had envisioned a large oil painting of the entire Steiner family and made several preparatory studies, including tender depictions of Lilly’s daughters, Eva and Maria. These works reflect his growing interest in portraying familial bonds and domestic life with emotional depth.

Sadly, the project was never completed. Schiele died on 31 October 1918, just three days after losing his pregnant wife, Edith, to the Spanish flu. He was only 28. The portrait of Lilly remains one of the last expressions of his remarkable talent—a quiet yet powerful image that captures her presence with sensitivity and grace.

For many years, the artwork stayed with the Steiner family, cherished as both a personal keepsake and a reminder of Schiele’s friendship and artistic legacy. Its appearance at auction in 2015 brought renewed attention to this piece, highlighting the resonance of Schiele’s late portraits and the lives they so vividly portray.