Bildnis Arthur Roessler

April 1912

Arrest, jail and trial in Neulengbach

In April 1912 Schiele was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping and seducing a girl of thirteen: the police seized more than a hundred drawings from his studio that they considered pornographic, and while awaiting trial in custody he made a series of paintings of his jail cell. The charges were dropped, but he was found guilty of exhibiting erotic drawings in a place accessible to children: the judge burned one of the drawings over a candle flame, the 21 days already spent in custody were counted and a further three days’ imprisonment were added.

1912–1916

Success at exhibitions across Europe

In 1912–1916 Schiele took part widely and successfully in exhibitions: his work was shown in Vienna, Budapest, Munich, Prague, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Zurich, Hagen, Dresden, Berlin, Rome, Cologne, Brussels and Paris.

1913

First solo show in Munich

In 1913 the Galerie Hans Goltz in Munich mounted Schiele’s first solo show.

1915

Choosing Edith, and Wally leaves

In 1915 Schiele chose the more socially acceptable Edith, apparently expecting to continue his relationship with Wally; when he explained the situation, Wally left him at once and he never saw her again. In February 1915 he wrote to his friend Arthur Roessler that he intended to get married, advantageously, but not to Wally.

17 June 1915

Marries Edith Harms

Despite some opposition from the Harms family, Schiele and Edith were married on 17 June 1915, the anniversary of the wedding of Schiele’s parents.

20 June 1915

Called up three days after the wedding

Although Schiele had avoided conscription for almost a year, three days after his wedding he was ordered to report for active service: he was first stationed in Prague, where Edith stayed in a hotel while Egon lived in an exhibition hall with his fellow conscripts; his commanding officer allowed them to see each other occasionally.