10 Times When Egon Schiele Mastered Hip Hop Hand Gestures

Zuzanna Stańska 12 June 2022 min Read

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Art is a serious thing. But sometimes some associations once they pop up in your head just can’t disappear. I didn’t find any scientific evidence for it but when you look at Egon Schiele’s portraits and self-portraits it seems he had some kind of a hand fetish.

It is a recurring theme in the portraits of Egon Schiele. The subject’s fingers are painted or drawn long in all kinds of open, twisted and strange symbolic gestures. Schiele’s hands and fingers are dislocated and unnatural. Often they are larger than the natural ones. Every knuckle and every joint are exaggerated and carefully articulated.

You probably know this gesture:

The Rapper 2Pac showing "West Coast" sign — Rapper Tupac showing “West Coast” sign. Pinterest.

In hip-hop culture, this “W” signifies alliance to the West Coast, in contradiction to the East Coast hip hop scene.

Here are 10 times when Egon Schiele painted, drawn or posed on a photograph with this os similar gesture.

1. Self-Portrait as St. Sebastian

Egon Schiele, Self-portrait as St. Sebastian, 1914, private collection — Egon Schiele, *Self-portrait as St. Sebastian*, 1914, private collection. WikiArt.

2. The Poet (Self-Portrait)

Egon Schiele, *The Poet (Self-Portrait)*, 1911, private collection. Reddit.

3. Mime van Osen

Egon Schiele, *Mime van Osen*, 1910, Leopold Museum, Vienna, Austria.

4. Self-Portrait with Peacock Waistcoat

Egon Schiele, *Self-Portrait with Peacock Waistcoat*, 1911, Lower Austria State Gallery, Krems an der Donau, Austria.

5. Self-Portrait with Lowered Head

Egon Schiele, *Self-Portrait with Lowered Head*, 1912, Leopold Museum, Vienna, Austria.

6. Self-Portrait with Folded Hands

Egon Schiele, Self-Portrait with Folded Hands, ©Sotheby's Picture Library — Egon Schiele, *Self-Portrait with Folded Hands*, private collection. Artnet.

7. Gustav Klimt

Egon Schiele, *Portrait of Gustav Klimt*, 1913, private collection. Wikimedia Commons (public domain).

8. The Hand

Egon Schiele, The Hand, private collection — Egon Schiele, *The Hand*, private collection. Christie’s.

9. Photographic Self-Portrait with Eyes Closed

Egon Schiele, *Photographic self-portrait with eyes closed*, 1914. Oscar en Photos.

10. Another Photographic Portrait

Egon Schiele,1914. Photograph by Anton Josef Trčka, Albertina Museum — Anton Josef Trčka, Egon Schiele, 1914, Albertina Museum, Vienna, Austria.

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