KOLLER VIEW 4/23

10 Preview of the Swiss Art auction on 1 December 2023 The painter who caught the sun summer of 1917. And even in his later years – in 1930, on the occasion of a comprehensive solo exhibition at the Kunsthalle Basel – the artist stated in the foreword to the catalogue: ‘The struggle for light is the main- spring of my work’. In ‘Apple tree’ from 1912, the tree covers almost the entire surface of the square canvas (ill. 1). The artist seems less concerned with creating a landscape or nature painting than with the shimmering interplay of green, yellow, and red colours between the leaves, the ripe apples and the background of the picture. The tiny female figure in the far distance adds depth to the composition. The Alpine landscape in a sea of fog, which Giacometti painted in 1921 (ill. 2), stretch- es even further, to the horizon in the centre of the picture. Here, too, the almost magical light of the Giovanni Giacometti is considered a master of light, and Karl Balsiger was a passionate collector of Giacometti's art. Correspondence between the two companions, who were very close in age, reflects a friendship that lasted for many years. Balsiger, who ran a pasta factory near Solothurn, acquired at least 28 works by Giacometti throughout his life; six of them will be offered in our 1 December auction. These works remained in the family after Balsiger's premature death in 1931, and were for many years on loan to the Kunstmuseum Chur. ‘I am still completely convinced that for the painter, everything exists through light. For me, colour has been much more an expression of light than a dec- orative motif ’, wrote Giacometti to his friend and fel- low painter Daniel Baud-Bovy (1870–1959) in the late 1 mountains dominates the scenery. The glistening backlight of the sun in ‘Winter in Maloja’ is particularly dramatic; the white of the snow contrasts with the rich blue shadows of the bare rocks (ill. 3). Landscapes dominate Giacometti's extensive oeuvre. His trusted friend andmentor Giovanni Segantini gave him artistic guidance, especially in his younger years. Later formative influences included Paul Cézanne and Vincent van Gogh, and references to Ferdinand Hodler. Giacometti depicted every season and every conceivable mood of light. He constantly sought to capture sunlight and to master the interaction of colours that fascinated him throughout his life.