The work you are admiring, entitled "Death and the Maiden", depicts a particularly painful time in the life of its author, already marked by the early death of his father, a turbulent relationship with his mother, and an accusation of relations with a 14-year-old girl.
At the age of 21, Schiele fell in love with 17-year-old Wally Neuzil, the female figure in the painting, marking the start of a profound romantic relationship that lasted almost five years. As well as his lover, the beautiful red-haired young woman became his muse and model.
This painting, from 1915, shows Schiele and the girl entwined in a dramatic final embrace. Schiele had married Edith Wharms the year before, perhaps partly driven by financial interests, and was thus compelled to leave Neuzil.
If you look closely at the painting, you’ll see that the intense color of Wally's dress contrasts with the dark habit of Death, depicted with Schiele’s own face. Note the fixed stare of the artist, almost petrified with pain. The embrace of the two figures marks the end of a deep bond between the two that began during their youth and was undermined by scandal and prejudice. Theirs was not a physical death, but both mourned their separation.
The skeletal forms, the girl's outstretched hands and Schiele's large hands holding the head and shoulder of his beloved illustrate a bond that remains unbreakable, despite their separation. The young woman never accepted the end of their love story, and died two years later at the front, where she was serving as a nurse for the Red Cross.
Note how the stark background of the work highlights the isolation of the two lovers, featuring nothing but a sheet spread on the ground, almost like a shroud, and rocks in yellowish hues.
The work inevitably prompts reflection on the essence of existence, its fragilities and the precarious nature of everything.
An interesting fact: Despite their separation, Schiele proposed that he and Wally meet once a year to travel together. However, her early death, in one of the very places they had dreamed of exploring together, represented a further tragedy for Schiele, who continued to celebrate her in his paintings.
