National Gallery Prague is exhibiting Egon Schiele’s rare works on paper, including the drawing Sedící žena s pokrčenými koleny (Edith), for a strictly limited two-week window starting September 24, 2026. Because light causes paper to yellow, become brittle, and fade, these fragile pieces spend most of their time in archival storage, according to curator Petra Kolářová.
Why Egon Schiele Drawings Are Rarely Displayed
Works on paper face strict preservation limits in major institutions. Light exposure permanently damages delicate media, forcing museums to restrict viewing times to short, occasional exhibitions. When the National Gallery Prague celebrates its 230th anniversary, it opens its vault for just 14 days per piece. Olga Kotková, general director of the National Gallery Prague, noted that the institution relies on these brief rotations to protect its collection while still giving the public rare access.
The first piece on display, Sedící žena s pokrčenými koleny (Edith) from 1917, depicts the artist’s wife, Edith. The work features Schiele’s signature heavy black contours and gouache, presenting a clothed model in an unvarnished, intimate pose. International art historians previously debated whether the model was Edith or her sister Adele. However, Veronika Hulíková, director of the Modern Art collection at the National Gallery, discovered an acquisition document in the archive confirming the subject is indeed Edith, as detailed by curator Petra Kolářová. The drawing recently served as a central loan for a monographic exhibition at the Leopold Museum in Vienna, according to Olga Kotková.
The Rotation Schedule and Exhibition Details
Visitors can view the drawings on the fourth floor of the Trade Fair Palace (Veletržní palác) within the exhibition 1796–1918: Art of the Long Century. The display schedule is split strictly between the two pieces:
- Sedící žena s pokrčenými koleny (Edith): On view from September 24 to October 11, 2026.
- Vlastní podobizna (Self-Portrait, 1914): On view from October 13 to October 25, 2026.
Both pieces entered the museum’s holdings in 1930, when the institution—then known as the Modern Gallery—purchased them from the Vienna art dealership Würthle & Sohn (also cited in reports as Würth und Sohn) to strengthen its German artist section. That acquisition happened just as the Great Depression took hold and three years before Adolf Hitler became chancellor. Under the Nazi regime, Schiele’s art faced labeling as “degenerate art,” alongside works by Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Max Ernst, and Czechoslovak artists Josef Čapek and Emil Filla. Fortunately, the works survived the Protectorate era unharmed.
Did you know? Egon and Edith Schiele visited Prague in 1915 for their honeymoon, stopping by the Modern Gallery to view art. Egon returned three years later to organize the Jung Wien: Österreichische Graphik exhibition, featuring 24 of his own pieces. Tragically, Edith died of the Spanish flu on the exact day Czechoslovakia declared independence in 1918, and Egon died three days later at age 28.
Historical Context and Anniversary Interventions
The 230th anniversary celebrations—marking the founding of the Society of Patriotic Friends of Arts—also feature new artistic interventions across the Trade Fair Palace. Michal Novotný, director of the Collection of Art after 1945, explained that these installations connect past exhibitions with the building’s identity since its reopening in 1995. Visitors can view Vojtěch Kovařík’s monumental painting Zlatý trojúhelník (acquired in 2024) and Jan Kaplický’s suspended structure Bublina in the Small Hall.
It features painter Magdaléna Cubrové’s 1979 work Na okraji jámy alongside documentation of a 2006 happening by the artistic group Rafani, who borrowed the canvas—which had never previously been requested for loan—and tossed it into the Orlík Dam before divers recovered it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the Egon Schiele drawings exhibited?
How long will the Schiele drawings be on display?
Each drawing is shown for only two weeks to protect the paper from light damage. Edith is on view from September 24 to October 11, 2026, followed by the self-portrait from October 13 to October 25, 2026.
When did the National Gallery acquire these artworks?
The Modern Gallery purchased them in 1930 from the Vienna art firm Würthle & Sohn.
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