A lost Schiele painting – which was rediscovered after 100 years – is set to feature in the Leopold Museum’s first NFT collection.
Schiele Painting Rediscovered After 100 Years
The Leopold Museum has announced the rediscovery of a large painting by Austrian Expressionist Egon Schiele, 鈥楲eopold Czihaczek at the Piano 1907鈥�. Capturing the artist鈥檚 uncle and legal guardian, the portrait was rediscovered in recent months within a Viennese private collection, having been missing for 100 years. The work will go on display to the public for the 铿乺st time and will feature in the museum鈥檚 exclusive NFT collection of 24 paintings and drawings听 by听 Schiele,听 produced听 in听 partnership听 with听 LaCollection,听 with听 funds听 from听 the听 NFT collection going towards the painting鈥檚 restoration and expansion of the museum鈥檚 Schiele collection.
The Leopold Museum houses the largest and most eminent collection of works by Egon Schiele (1890鈥�1918). In his brief life cut short by the Spanish 铿倁 at the age of 28, Schiele managed to create a groundbreaking body of work, recognised as one of the most formative and colourful 铿乬ures听 of听 Viennese听 Modernism.听 The听 museum鈥檚听 founder,听 Rudolf听 Leopold听 (1925鈥�2010)听 was听 a preeminent international collector and one of the most important patrons of Schiele鈥檚 work and largely responsible for his international fame through his single minded fascination with the artist throughout his life.
Themes Still Relevant Today
The curated NFT collection will re铿俥ct subjects at the heart of Schiele鈥檚 extensive body of work that continue to resonate today; gender and androgyny, self-identity and plurality, as well as psychological struggle. As one of the most revered but controversial modern painters for the disturbing intensity and raw sexuality of his painting, the NFTs provide an opportunity to collect works that elicited a strong visceral reaction in viewers when 铿乺st shown in 1906 and continue to be emotionally charged to this day.
鈥楲eopold听 Czihaczek听 at听 the听 Piano听 1907鈥櫶� is an important oil painting by the artist made shortly before听听 his听听 17th听听 birthday.听听 The听听 work听 is听 late听 Impressionist听 in听 style,听 with听 a听 muted听 palette characteristic of Schiele鈥檚 early oeuvre. The painting portrays his uncle, Leopold Czihacze, who after the death of Schiele鈥檚 father when he was just 15 years old, also became his legal guardian.
There are only small-scale portraits of Leopold Czihaczek in existence. He is depicted in the painting as a bourgeois 铿乬ure and a man of culture, perhaps an ode to the role he was to play in his life.听
The听 last听 record听 of听 the听 painting听 can听 be听 traced听 back听 to听 Rudolph听 Leopold鈥檚听 1972听 catalogue raisonn茅 of the artist, but there had been no record of the painting since. The painting was previously only known from preliminary studies; Leopold also gathered information on the painting from conversations with Schiele鈥檚 sister; the other main source material was a black and white photograph from 1930 showing a room in which it hung. As part of a 5 year loan, the painting will go on long-term听 display to the public at the museum. The rediscovered painting will also be on sale as an NFT and its funds will go towards expansion of the collection.听
Schiele鈥檚 paintings are rarely available on the market. Alongside the rediscovered painting, the drop will include several famous Schiele paintings such as 鈥楶ortrait of Wally Neuzil鈥�, 鈥楽别濒蹿-笔辞谤迟谤补颈迟 with Chinese Lantern Plant鈥� and 鈥楧ead Mother I鈥�.听
The听 drop听 schedule听 will听 be听 made available on听 lacollection.io, with general market sales open between 16 – 26 May. The 24 artworks, including the rediscovered painting, will be sold across three scarcity levels including Ultra Rare, Super Rare and Rare.
Jean-S茅bastien Beaucamps, CEO and Co-Founder of LaCollection says:
鈥淲e are very excited to announce our 铿乺st European partner with the esteemed Leopold Museum, and expand our offer for collectors internationally whilst enabling institutions to acquire artworks through NFTs. It is a pleasure to bring collections from the likes of Egon Schiele to new audiences through the blockchain, facilitating the rediscovery of a ground-breaking artist for a new generation of collectors.鈥澨�
