211 / 225
3740*
FRANZ GERTSCH(Mörigen 1930 - lives and works in
Rüschegg)
Gräser Detail, #1, Türkis. 2003.
Colour woodcut. e.a.1/3, artist‘s proof
outside the edition 18. Signed on the
reverse: Franz Gertsch. Image 47 x 64 cm
on Kumohadamashi Japan by Heizaburo
Iwano 72 x 89 cm.
Provenance: Acquired directly from the
artist by the present owner in 2002; since
then private collection Germany.
Catalogue raisonné: No longer in Mason.
The lots 3740 - 3745 will be offered as
enchère réservée.
Between 1986 and 1995, the Swiss artist
Franz Gertsch focuses exclusively on his
partly large-format woodcuts. Only in
1996/97 does he return to painting with
the picture “Gräser” (Grasses), which
therefore is of particular importance in
his overall oeuvre. The years of focusing
solely on the art of the woodcut also
leaves its traces on his rediscovered love
for painting; the use of mineral pigments
and reduction of the colour palette. The
woodcuts that we can present here in the
original 6 colours, are a further reduction,
as they are details from the painting. Only
two chosen details are the same.
When considering the painting, we are
at first sceptical as to whether this motif
effectively works. However, on closer
observation, we keep discovering new de-
tails and can literally see the wind blowing
through the grass; the same holds true
for the detailed views of the woodcuts. At
first, it seems that we are watching the
same detail and our attention is caught
only by the colours, but as we look closer,
we discover that we are in fact viewing a
completely different motif.
With his large-format woodcuts, Franz
Gertsch belongs to the most significant
Swiss artists of our time. From 1947 to
1950, he attends the Malschule Max (Art
School Max) in Mühlenen, Bern, where he
completes his art training.
This participation in documenta V in Kassel
in 1972 brings himworldwide recognition;
1978, 1999 and 2003 he takes part to the
Venice Biennale. In 1997 he is awarded the
prestigious Kaiserring of the city of Goslar.
The first big retrospective of his works is
organised in 2005 by the museum franz
gertsch in collaboration with the Kunstmu-
seum Bern.
CHF 5 000 / 6 000
(€ 4 630 / 5 560)
3740
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Prints, Multiples & Photography