Austrian artist Egon Schiele who died at the age of 28 in 1918 was one of the most important artists of the early 20th century and an important figure in the development of Expressionism. His paintings and drawings have a direct and powerful impact, and the expression of feeling in them is so intense that they speak to us of our own, as well as of Schiele’s experience.

‘Four Trees’ (1917) is an excellent example of this art movement, as the most obvious characteristic is the regularity of the trees. The painting measures 110.5cm x 141cm and is oil on canvas. The trees are evenly spaced and are more or less the same distance from the bottom of the canvas. The cloud lines in the background create horizontal divisions and these are reiterated by the curves of the land in the foreground. The painting is displayed at the Osterreichische Galerie, Vienna. — S.I.K.