Houses with Laundry

In the suburbs, the sky is muted greys;
layered clouds merge with beige
post-harvest fields – a train passes by.
Houses are prominent, earthy, weak light
reflecting in windows, the inhabitants’
washing strung out on lines like bright
bunting criss-crossing the landscape.
This is life outside the city, away
from Viennese high society, an escape
from pressures and scandal. The day
is almost over, laundry dances in the breeze,
there are no people to be seen: they
are gathered around tables for Abendbrot,
sending thankful fervent prayers to God.

Kim M. Russell, 25th August 2026

Egon Schiele, Houses with Laundry (Suburb II)(1914)

It’s Tuesday and time for Poetics at the dVerse Poets Pub with our host, Melissa, who has given us an ekphrastic prompt featuring one of my favourite artists, Egon Schiele. We are pulling poetry from the landscape.

I already knew a lot about Schiele: I’ve been to an exhibition of his erotic works, have books about his art, and read a great book in which he plays a prominent role, The Flames by Sophie Haydock.

I love the painting ‘Houses with Laundry’, which reminds me of some of Klimt’s paintings (another favourite), so I chose this as my inspiration for an ekphrastic poem.

20 thoughts on “Houses with Laundry”

    1. Thank you so much, Björn. As you may know, Austria, and especially Vienna, is a home from home for me, although German and Cologne were my first loves.

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    1. Thank you, Ken. Schiele painted quote a lot of erotica in his short life. The exhibition we saw in London was a private one of paintings that hadn’t been shown before I smiled when I read your title!

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  8. You have captured a closer view into this artwork. The reference to scandals (dirty laundry) and the (clean) laundry drying in the breeze gives the reader pause. Two different lifestyles unfold.

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