
StruckdownbytheSpanishFluin1918,agedjust28,inhisshortlifeEgonSchielecreatedover3000drawingsandpaintings,self-portraitsandnudes. Agentprovocateurofthemodernistera,hewasataboobustingrebelwhoseartlookslikeitwasmadeyesterday:self-obsessed,exhibitionist,unafraidtoconfrontquestionsofsexualityandidentity. TomarktheanniversaryofSchiele’sdeath,acenturyago,thisfilmtellsSchiele’sdramaticstoryinhisownwords,usingoriginallettersandwritings,manyofthemtranslatedforthefirsttime:celebratinghisremarkableartisticachievementsbutalsodebatingthecontroversiesaroundhiswork. Hissexuallyfrankimagesshockedearly20thcenturyViennaandstillchallengeustoday.Butarethesetheimagesofempoweredwomenincontrol-orfiguresofofvoyeurism? Schieledidn’tjustmakeground-breakingart.Hewasalsoanewkindofartist,carefullycraftinghisownmyth,pioneeringthenotionoftheartistaspersonalityandperformerinawaythatwouldinfluencegenerationsofotherculturaltrailblazers.Someofthem,includingIggyPop,alsoappearinthefilm.