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Lot 3740* - Z40 Prints & Multiples - Saturday, 25. June 2016, 04.00 PM

FRANZ GERTSCH

(Mörigen 1930 - lives and works in Rüschegg)
Gräser Detail, #1, Türkis.
2002.
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 details 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.
His participation in documenta V in Kassel in 1972 brings him worldwide 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 Kunstmuseum Bern.


CHF 5 000 / 6 000 | (€ 5 150 / 6 190)

Sold for CHF 6 875 (including buyer’s premium)
All information is subject to change.