Art is a serious thing. But sometimes some associations once they pop up in your head they 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 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:

Rapper Tupac showing “West Coast” sign

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

Here are ten times when Egon Schiele painted, drawn or posed on a photograph with this gesture (or something similar).

1. Self-portrait as St. Sebastian

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

2. The Poet (Self-Portrait)

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

3. Mime van Osen

Egon Schiele, Mime van Osen, 1910, private collection

4. Self-Portrait with Peacock Waistcoat

Egon Schiele, Self-Portrait with Peacock Waistcoat, 1911, © Collection of Ernst Ploil, now on view at the Albertina Museum on “Egon Schiele” exhibition

5. Self-Portrait with Lowered Head

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

6. Self-Portrait with Folded Hands

Egon Schiele, Self-Portrait with Folded Hands, ©Sotheby’s Picture Library

7. Gustav Klimt

Egon Schiele, Portrait of Gustav Klimt, 1913, private collection

8. The Hand

Egon Schiele, The Hand, private collection

9. Photographic self-portrait with eyes closed

Egon Schiele, Photographic self-portrait with eyes closed, 1914 photographed by Anton Josef Trčka

10. Another photographic portrait

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

Btw. if you don’t have enough of Egon Schiele (I never have!) you should visit Albertina Museum in Vienna which from February 22nd until June 18th hosts a comprehensive exhibition of artworks by Egon Schiele which presents 160 of Schiele’s most magnificent gouaches and drawings.