Intriguing historical fiction that sent me off for more information not only on Wally, the muse, but also on the men in her world (yes. her world). I learned a bit while being entertained which is always good. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

The Artist's Muse by Kerry Postle is a book that has gotten a lot of positive reviews and attention. Many reviews who's opinions I highly rate fell in love with this book. I thought I would like it, I expected to love it! But somehow this book just didn't reach me. I can't really explain it. This is far from a bad book. It is well written and paced, has some excellent world building and a compelling main character but I just couldn't get on with it. Maybe it is the subject matter or the time setting. I gave this book a good go but picking it up began to feel like a chore and that is something reading should never be. Despite this I would still recommend this book. The Artist's Muse has bought joy to many readers, I hope it brings joy to you too.

I love historical fiction and even though it is often spoiled by....you know, knowing historical facts, there are still some books (read as: a lot) that feature for me yet unknown or less known people or events. And even though my interest in art doesn't go beyond 'Wow this is really pretty' or 'This is a modernist nightmare, why??', I enjoyed the book a lot. The snobbery of the 'high society' towards people who have risen in ranks is a common theme in all the historical novels.

The writing was superb as well and it was a good book to read!

I love finding out about history from books and this was a period and setting that I knew very little about. I'd never heard of Wally or Egon and it was a delight to discover them through Kerry gorgeous prose.

The Artist's Muse is a story of a woman's plight, the lengths she will go to to survive, how far she will go to for love and where she will draw the line. The time and place may be different to our own but there are many women who will relate to Wally's story. Kerry's writing is so beautifully evocative I found myself rooting for Wally, even when she was frustrating me! And as for Egon....well....

Thank you to the publisher for an early review copy.

The Artist's Muse is the true story of Walburga ‘Wally’ Neuzil, model to Gustav Klimt and later, lover and muse of Egon Schiele.
Vienna was an explosion of artistic creation. The old Habsburg Empire was crumbling, replaced with a new libertine hedonism. The tension between past social guidelines and norms made the differences between the classes even more apparent.
At the time there was a blurred, messy dividing line being an artist’s model and being a prostitute. Rather often, Klimt’s and Schiele’s models were doubling as prostitutes. In the eyes of the bourgeoisie, there wasn’t much difference.

Wally was "forced" into modeling at a young age in order to feed her infirmed mother and younger sisters. She started her career as an artist's model posing for Gustav Klimt. She felt inferior to the other influences in Gustav Klimt's life, namely his devoted friendship to his lifelong companion. Emilie Floge.
Wally is only too eager to switch her allegiances and modeling duties over to young up and coming artist Egon Schiele, who is not only an exciting new talent, he is also young and in her eyes, very handsome.
Soon, Wally is not only modeling for Schiele, she is living with him, keeping his business affairs running smoothly, managing administrative duties, paying rent and delivering papers and paintings.

Wally was extremely loyal to Egon, though he did not always deserve her steadfast devotion. She posed tirelessly – keeping a keen eye on his other models, and sometimes posing with them – and accompanied Schiele on his ill-fated work trips to the countryside. The artist found the city oppressive and decamped to the Bohemian town of Krumau and then Neulengbach, a village near Vienna. In both towns the couple’s unmarried status and nonconformist behavior ruffled feathers; in 1912 in Neulengbach, Schiele spent nearly a month in prison for allegedly seducing and kidnapping a minor. Neuzil delivered food and art materials as he awaited release (he was ultimately charged with displaying pornographic materials in the presence of minors). Shortly afterwards, Schiele painted Self-Portrait with Physalis and Portrait of Wally; the works, considered a pair, represent a turning point and maturation.

Neuzil and Schiele’s relationship famously came to an abrupt end in April 1915 when Schiele proposed marriage to Edith Harms. One of the Schiele's best paintings, Death and the Maiden, is an homage to the intensity and dark sexuality of Wally and Egon's relationship.

They both died young -- Wally died in 1917 of Scarlet Fever at the age of 23, Egon died, age 28, in 1918 of the Spanish Flu. But their story, a tale of erotic exploration, artistic inspiration, obsession, loyalty, love, betrayal and service, all in the eye of a societal and geopolitical storm, continues to intrigue.

4.5 stars!

I didn't quite know what to expect when I started The Artist's Muse. To be honest, I figured it would be a light historical book but it ended up being so much more. Starting the book I wasn't actually sure that I knew about the major characters of the book, Wally Neuzil or Egan Schiele but somewhere along the way I started remembering that I saw a short documentary about Wally once because some events in the story were familiar to me. I loved this, of course.

What I noticed right from the start was how beautiful the writing was. The writing style was actually really unique and I loved how Wally ometimes spoke to the reader. That, together with the elegant writing made the story even more stunning to me.

For those who don't know, this is the story of Wally Neuzil who was the muse (hence the title) of the controversial artist Egon Schiele. They had their ups and downs together but overall you could call it a pretty toxic relationship. But I thought this only made the end so much better, in my opinion. It was all written very well.

Lately I've been feeling drawn to books set in the early 1900's and The Artist's Muse ended up being so damn good that I definitely want to continue reading books in this era. I loved it all.

Overall, The Artist's Muse by Kerry Postle was simple a work of art. It was poignant, stunning and I could barely put the book down. It's definitely one of my favorite books of the year!

This was a difficult book to read. The descriptions were rich in color and contrast and the writing engaging and sympathetic. While I liked the protagonist initially and was entranced by the descriptions of the art, artists, and the studios, the book took a very dark turn that I didn't expect. For fans of "Girl With a Pearl Earing", this is not that. This is an adult read.

n turn of the last century Vienna, Wally Neuzil will do almost anything to provide for her family, so when painter Gustav Klimt needs a model, Wally is willing to try to become the artist’s muse. Her role will introduce her to members of Vienna’s best families. But rather than being treated like an equal, Wally becomes a pariah, viewed as little more than a prostitute. It’s only when Wally meets another young artist, one who’s determined to show her a better life, that she allows herself to fall in love and be swept away by passion. Postle introduces readers to some of the greatest artists of the 20th century, while examining the social mores and constrictions on women of the time. Lush and evocative