IV The Emperor

Egon Schiele’s portrait of Eduard Kosmack rests on the muscular legs of Alexander the Great, making for an imposing figure of influence and creativity. Mars floats in the background as a reminder of all things material and expansive. Towers of commerce rise up around him like a forest born from the Emperor’s toil. The napoleonic bees scurry upwards to manifest their master’s blueprints. The Emperor’s face appears resolute, but is also shadowed by a portrait of Schiele himself, alluding to an inner turmoil as he attempts to turn emotion and inspiration into a sturdy foundation for the world he’s intent on inhabiting.