KOLLER VIEW 4/23

13 Albert Anker These three paintings offered on 1 December are prime examples of Albert Anker's pictori- al world, which captures everyday rural life. His devotion to his family, friends and neighbours resulted in haunting portraits and touching genre paintings. Anker observed all stages of life, from infants to the elderly. Seen as a whole, these depictions of ordinary people form a social kaleidoscope of Switzerland in the second half of the 19th century. Executed at the highest level and focused on their subjects, Anker's paintings and drawings mainly celebrate people at peace with themselves in their idyllic, tranquil country life. Albert Anker (1831–1910). Elderly farmer with a Bible. 1877. Oil on canvas. 50 × 61 cm. Estimate:CHF 400 000/700 000 Albert Anker (1831–1910). School child with a fur hat in a snowy landscape. Oil on canvas. 38 × 32.5 cm. Estimate: CHF 350 000/650 000 Albert Anker (1831–1910). The two sisters. 1883. Oil on canvas. 70 × 53 cm. Estimate: CHF 700 000/1 200 000 Robert Zünd Forests are among Robert Zünd's best-known subjects. They fascinate with a skilful oscillation between realism and idealisation. Gottfried Keller, who visited Zünd in his studio in 1882, saw in the forest paintings approaches to ‘the true ideal-real landscape, or to the real-ideal landscape’. The artist's meticulous- ness and his talent for guiding the light make these large-format oil paintings resemble photographic images – although these forests would be impossible to photograph, because Zünd depicts an idealised nature that does not really exist. It is therefore hardly surprising that the artist did not paint in plein air , but rather put his pictorial creations to canvas in the studio. Zünd's great affinity with nature found its expression in grandiose depictions. The Kunsthaus Zurich and the Kunstmuseum Lucerne each have a horizontal forest painting by Zünd; our version is the only known vertical composition of this subject. Robert Zünd (1827–1909). Oak forest. Oil on canvas. 80 × 60 cm. Estimate: CHF 150 000/250 000 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION SWISS ART Laura Koller lkoller@kollerauctions.com ONLINE CATALOGUES www.kollerauctions.com