Swiss painting before 1940 (page in reconstruction)
including Swiss born artists
not including Giacometti.
Except otherwise stated, all results include the premium.
See also : Hodler
Chronology : 1939
not including Giacometti.
Except otherwise stated, all results include the premium.
See also : Hodler
Chronology : 1939
1755-1756 Dutch Girl at Breakfast by Liotard
2016 SOLD for £ 4.4M by Sotheby's
Born in Geneva, Jean-Étienne Liotard traveled widely. His stay in the Levant from 1738 to 1742 gave him the opportunity to wear Turkish clothes, a practice recommended at that time to the European travelers. He acquired a deserved and desired reputation of eccentricity by keeping this type of costume after returning and by growing his beard.
Liotard was also a theorist. From the beginning, he practiced pastel rather than oil to ensure a "beau fini" (good finish), meaning a smooth picture without a visible trace from a brushstroke.
With the help from his patron Lord Duncannon later 2nd Earl of Bessborough whom he had accompanied in the Levant, the career of the "Turkish painter" was a lasting success, allowing the artist to gather a large collection of Dutch paintings of the seventeenth century.
It was tempting for the artist to imitate these masters. On July 6, 2016, Sotheby's sold for £ 4.4M a genre scene in Holland, lot 36. This oil on canvas 47 x 39 cm is arguably the most successful example of Liotard's "très beau fini".
The scene of great tranquility shows a young woman in apron busy pouring coffee (not chocolate despite a title later given to this work by comparison with one of his most famous pastels). The breakfast on the table is a miniature still life and the painting on the wall is a direct reference to the lighting effects in Dutch art.
Liotard probably made this painting for his personal use as a culmination of his know how. Undated, it appears at Christie's in 1774 in a sale of his collection. It was purchased by the Earl of Bessborough in whose family it remained until the death of the 10th Earl.
A contemporary of Chardin, Liotard wants to be a modern artist. The clothes and accessories of the Dutch woman and the decorative elements are contemporary. It is taken for sure that the work was painted during a trip in Holland, probably the stay of 1755-1756 which ended with his marriage and with the loss of his fifteen years beard that was a direct consequence.
The image is shared by Sotheby's on Wikimedia :
Liotard was also a theorist. From the beginning, he practiced pastel rather than oil to ensure a "beau fini" (good finish), meaning a smooth picture without a visible trace from a brushstroke.
With the help from his patron Lord Duncannon later 2nd Earl of Bessborough whom he had accompanied in the Levant, the career of the "Turkish painter" was a lasting success, allowing the artist to gather a large collection of Dutch paintings of the seventeenth century.
It was tempting for the artist to imitate these masters. On July 6, 2016, Sotheby's sold for £ 4.4M a genre scene in Holland, lot 36. This oil on canvas 47 x 39 cm is arguably the most successful example of Liotard's "très beau fini".
The scene of great tranquility shows a young woman in apron busy pouring coffee (not chocolate despite a title later given to this work by comparison with one of his most famous pastels). The breakfast on the table is a miniature still life and the painting on the wall is a direct reference to the lighting effects in Dutch art.
Liotard probably made this painting for his personal use as a culmination of his know how. Undated, it appears at Christie's in 1774 in a sale of his collection. It was purchased by the Earl of Bessborough in whose family it remained until the death of the 10th Earl.
A contemporary of Chardin, Liotard wants to be a modern artist. The clothes and accessories of the Dutch woman and the decorative elements are contemporary. It is taken for sure that the work was painted during a trip in Holland, probably the stay of 1755-1756 which ended with his marriage and with the loss of his fifteen years beard that was a direct consequence.
The image is shared by Sotheby's on Wikimedia :
ANKER
Intro
Trained in Paris, Albert Anker maintained a unique style that kindly showcases the family life.
He has no equal for portraits of children and of elderly people because he never falls into the sentimentality of a Bouguereau, for example. And even if the clothes are old-fashioned, the art of Anker has a timeless appeal.
The children, always serious, learn to become young Swiss. The theme of the baby and the older sister is one of his favorites.
He has no equal for portraits of children and of elderly people because he never falls into the sentimentality of a Bouguereau, for example. And even if the clothes are old-fashioned, the art of Anker has a timeless appeal.
The children, always serious, learn to become young Swiss. The theme of the baby and the older sister is one of his favorites.
1
1879 Turnstunde in Ins
2013 SOLD for CHF 7.5M by Koller
Link to lot 3012.
The image is shared by Wikimedia :
The image is shared by Wikimedia :
2
1879 Schulmädchen
2011 SOLD for CHF 5.6M by Beurret et Bailly
A 65 x 50 cm oil on canvas made by Anker in 1879, was sold for CHF 5.6M from a lower estimate of CHF 1.2M by Beurret & Bailly on June 18, 2011.
It features a young schoolgirl, busy writing on her slate board.
It features a young schoolgirl, busy writing on her slate board.
3
1885 Mädchen und Kleinkind
2011 SOLD for CHF 6.1M by Sotheby's
On November 28, 2011, Sotheby's sold for CHF 6.1M from a lower estimate of CHF 3M a 54 x 70 cm oil on canvas painted by Anker in 1885, lot 17.
The toddler sleeps in his cradle in the garden. Sister, attentive, watches quietly while knitting.
The toddler sleeps in his cradle in the garden. Sister, attentive, watches quietly while knitting.
4
1889 Die ältere Schwester
2011 SOLD for CHF 7.4M by Koller
On December 9, 2011, Koller sold for CHF 7.4M from a lower estimate of CHF 1.5M an oil on canvas 66 x 46 cm painted by Anker circa 1889, lot 3012.
Baby is standing on the desk, trying to stay straight. The sister watches, with an enveloping movement of the arms to prevent a fall.
The image is shared by Wikimedia :
Baby is standing on the desk, trying to stay straight. The sister watches, with an enveloping movement of the arms to prevent a fall.
The image is shared by Wikimedia :
1898 Cinq Heures by Vallotton
2023 for sale on October 13 by Christie's
Born in Lausanne, Félix Vallotton studied art in Paris at the Académie Julian. He specialized from 1891 in woodcuts, creating black and white portraits and interior scenes in broad masses and minimal details with a biting wit. His feeling for realistic scenes and faits divers is contemporary to Zola and Maupassant.
At that time the Les Nabis group of young artists also trained in the Académie Julian made their hands to post-impressionnisme, starting from a comment by Gauguin to Sérusier in 1888. The new artists have to get rid of imitations, use vivid pure colors, exaggerate the scenery and promote decorative effects and symbolism. Vallotton joined them in 1893 as Le Nabi étranger. Famously Bonnard was Le Nabi Japonard and Sérusier Le Nabi à la barbe rutilante.
In 1898 the Intimités series of ten woodcuts features indoor encounters of man and woman. A series of paintings of domestic scenes collectively titled Intérieurs avec figures follows the same style that may also be compared with Lautrec.
One of these 1898 paintings, gouache on board 36 x 58 cm, was historically titled Intimité but Cinq heures is now preferred as an allusion to the best time in France for illegal lovers which is cinq à sept. Here that time period begins by a close embracing of man and woman, possibly patron and secretary, seated as equal players in a red armchair in an office room.
Cinq heures is estimated £ 3M for sale by Christie's on October 13, 2023, lot 8. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
At that time the Les Nabis group of young artists also trained in the Académie Julian made their hands to post-impressionnisme, starting from a comment by Gauguin to Sérusier in 1888. The new artists have to get rid of imitations, use vivid pure colors, exaggerate the scenery and promote decorative effects and symbolism. Vallotton joined them in 1893 as Le Nabi étranger. Famously Bonnard was Le Nabi Japonard and Sérusier Le Nabi à la barbe rutilante.
In 1898 the Intimités series of ten woodcuts features indoor encounters of man and woman. A series of paintings of domestic scenes collectively titled Intérieurs avec figures follows the same style that may also be compared with Lautrec.
One of these 1898 paintings, gouache on board 36 x 58 cm, was historically titled Intimité but Cinq heures is now preferred as an allusion to the best time in France for illegal lovers which is cinq à sept. Here that time period begins by a close embracing of man and woman, possibly patron and secretary, seated as equal players in a red armchair in an office room.
Cinq heures is estimated £ 3M for sale by Christie's on October 13, 2023, lot 8. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
HODLER
1
1901 Genfersee von Saint-Prex aus
2007 SOLD for CHF 11M by Sotheby's
Sold by Sotheby's on June 5, 2007 for CHF 11M
2007 lot 48. Genfersee von Saint-Prex aus (72 x 102 cm)
2007 lot 48. Genfersee von Saint-Prex aus (72 x 102 cm)
2
1904 Genfersee von Chexbres aus
2011 SOLD for CHF 7.1M by Sotheby's
Sold by Sotheby's on November 28, 2011 for CHF 7.1M
Link to lot 47.
Link to lot 47.
3
1908 Genfersee
2006 SOLD for CHF 5M by Sotheby's
4
1913 Thunersee mit Stockhornkette
2006 SOLD for CHF 5.7M by Sotheby's
5
1915 Montana
2013 SOLD for CHF 8M by Sotheby's
The artistic evolution of Ferdinand Hodler is unique. He starts as a symbolist but his early landscapes, between realism and impressionism, are not especially significant.
Over time, however, landscape will become his most original and most emotional theme. Hodler destroys perspective to better reach infinity. The meadow in the foreground is insignificant and the vast surface of the lake repels the mountain far away.
This transformation is slow, but the mystical intent is more and more obvious. 1915 is a terrible year for Hodler. His young mistress died of cancer in January and his son battles tuberculosis in a sanatorium at Crans Montana.
On June 4, 2013, Sotheby's sold at lot 34 for CHF 8M from a lower estimate of CHF 3.8M an oil on canvas 66 x 80 cm painted in 1915 featuring a landscape of Montana.
Hodler no longer needs to observe the mountains. They are nothing more than an excuse to express his angst. The lake is extremely exaggerated or purely imaginary.
The mountain in the distance will never change. It is eternity, as opposed to the fragility of human works that are totally absent from this composition. Its symmetry increases its strength. The blue of the lake echoes the sky, and the ochres that dot the hill and its reflection mark the hope of a future life in this landscape at the creation of the world.
The mystical questioning of the mountains has not relieved Hodler. His life is broken. He died three years later.
Over time, however, landscape will become his most original and most emotional theme. Hodler destroys perspective to better reach infinity. The meadow in the foreground is insignificant and the vast surface of the lake repels the mountain far away.
This transformation is slow, but the mystical intent is more and more obvious. 1915 is a terrible year for Hodler. His young mistress died of cancer in January and his son battles tuberculosis in a sanatorium at Crans Montana.
On June 4, 2013, Sotheby's sold at lot 34 for CHF 8M from a lower estimate of CHF 3.8M an oil on canvas 66 x 80 cm painted in 1915 featuring a landscape of Montana.
Hodler no longer needs to observe the mountains. They are nothing more than an excuse to express his angst. The lake is extremely exaggerated or purely imaginary.
The mountain in the distance will never change. It is eternity, as opposed to the fragility of human works that are totally absent from this composition. Its symmetry increases its strength. The blue of the lake echoes the sky, and the ochres that dot the hill and its reflection mark the hope of a future life in this landscape at the creation of the world.
The mystical questioning of the mountains has not relieved Hodler. His life is broken. He died three years later.
