Egon Schiele - Seated male nude (self portrait) - Leopold Museum
I saw this piece in the flesh a few years ago and it has never left my mind. The way that Schiele has divided up the figure into homogenous colour blocks, within which sketchy application of colour and textures give a great amount of interest. Also, the subtle use of red draws the eye over the whole figure.
Caravaggio - Amor Victorious - Gemäldegalerie
Lots of people think renaissance art is a bit dull. If you take the time to really think about many paintings from this era however, this thought will dissolve quite quickly. Caravaggio's paintings have always struck a chord with me (as with many people). I think this is mostly due to his famous and ever-impressive mastery of chiaroscuro (creating strong contrasts between dark and light to accentuate particular elements of the composition). He is also particularly inspiring to me because he takes stroies from classcial literature and creates paintings that capture a particular element in a timeless fashion. His paintings can be enjoyed on their surface value, just as a skilled representation of reality. However, they are much more interesting when you dissect their elements. For example, in this picture notice the objects strewn about the floor - instruments, parchment, armor, set square and chisel, a crown - all left in a state of disrepair whilst cupid triumphantly stands over them. Apart from being a pretty face, this picture is also a simple and effective visual representation of the idea that love conquers all.
Tamara DeLempicka - Portrait of Marjorie - Gemäldegalerie
Another more modern master of chiaroscuro. Everything about DeLempickas paintings ooze grace and style. Her particular style of shading in particular is what grabs me, a brilliant combination of silky-smooth transitions between shadow and light in some places, contrasted against other areas where she creates a severe boundary between blocks of colour and shadow (not unlike the Schiele painting i presented first).
