EGON SCHIELE’S KAUERNDER WEIBLICHER AKT (CROUCHING FEMALE NUDE)
The expert draftsmanship in Egon Schiele’s Kauernder Weiblicher Akt (Crouching Female Nude) (estimate $2.5/3.5 million) is superb example of what set him apart from the other Expressionists, and showcases the freedom of execution that characterizes Schiele’s late period work. The first recorded owner of the present work was Dr. Heinrich Rieger, an influential collector in early 20th century Vienna and one of the artist’s most important patrons. A successful dentist, Dr. Rieger treated Schiele as a patient and was known to have accepted works of art in lieu of payment for his services. The work was recently restituted to the heirs of Dr. Rieger in 2021 by the Ludwig Museum, and it will now come to auction for the first time.