Switzerland
Urs Aeschbach is a Swiss media artist working in various techniques. Nature is always a pictorial theme in Urs Aeschbach's paintings. Her main characters are mushrooms, woody plants, animals, jellyfish, as well as dogs and horses. The artist's paintings are inspired by photographs and illustrations. In addition to paintings, Eschbach creates art and construction projects, video works, as well as constructions and installations.
Jacques-Laurent Agasse is a Swiss animal painter.
As a young man he studied at the veterinary school in Paris and was well versed in equine anatomy. In 1880 he moved to London and began painting dogs and racehorses, as well as exotic animals such as giraffes and zebras, which he observed in London zoos. Later, Agasse began to paint landscapes, portraits, and genre scenes as well.
Andrea Salvatore di Antonio Aglio was an Italian painter and sculptor who specialised in painting on marble.
Andrea Salvatore Aglio rediscovered and modified the technique known as encaustic, which allowed him to paint and reproduce works of art on marble.
Samuel Amsler is a Swiss engraver. He studied his art under Johan Heinrich Lips and Karl Ernst Hess, at Munich, and from 1816 pursued it in Italy, and chiefly at Rome, till in 1829 he succeeded his former master Hess as professor of engraving in the Munich academy. The works he designed and engraved are remarkable for the grace of the figures, and for the wonderful skill with which he retains and expresses the characteristics of the original paintings and statues. He was a passionate admirer of Raphael, and had great success in reproducing his works.
Albert Samuel Anker was a Swiss painter, gesture painter and graphic artist.
Albert studied at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris and exhibited his work at the Paris Salons, where he was awarded a gold medal in 1866. Anker painted many realistic portraits and genre scenes of ordinary Swiss life. In many of them he depicted children, including his own. Thanks to his paintings, Albert Anker was the most popular genre painter of 19th century Switzerland. He also decorated more than 500 earthenware plates for the Alsatian ceramicist Theodor Deck.
Anker was a member of the Grand Council of the Canton of Bern, initiated the creation of the city museum, and held the rank of officer of the Legion of Honor.
John Armleder is a Swiss performance artist, painter, sculptor, critic, and curator. His work is based on his involvement with Fluxus in the 1960s and 1970s, when he created performance art pieces, installations and collective art activities that were strongly influenced by John Cage. However, Armleder's position throughout his career has been to avoid associating his artistic practice with any type of manifesto.
Jean Arp, born Hans Peter Wilhelm Arp, was a German and French poet, painter, graphic artist and sculptor. one of the founders of the Dada movement in Zurich.
Arp used abstract forms in his work and experimented with different materials such as wood, metal and stone. He was also known for his poetic works, in which he applied a method of randomly selecting words, called the "clutter method". Arp believed that this method helped him express his thoughts more precisely and originally. Arp's influence on the arts is still significant today.
Rodolphe Auguste Bachelin was a Swiss landscape, history and portrait painter as well as a writer, historian and art critic.
He was interested in the Lombardy War of 1859 and in particular in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 to 1871, which provided him with several subjects with its troop surge at Les Verrières. The Neuchâtel painter was greatly influenced by the writings of Rodolphe Töpffer and aspired to become a Swiss national painter.
Karl Otto Bachmann, a Swiss painter, graphic artist, and illustrator, began his artistic career in Luzern before moving to Zurich and pursuing freelance work. He achieved a breakthrough in 1943 with the publication of his "Faust" portfolio. Bachmann drew inspiration from his travels across Europe, often joining circus troupes for income and creative ideas. His paintings were characterized by imaginative and virtual settings, with themes revolving around the stage, carnival, and circus. Bachmann's elegant lines, delicate colors, and harmonious compositions made him a respected book illustrator. He actively participated in numerous exhibitions throughout his life, both domestically and internationally.
Jan Balet was a German/US-American painter, graphic artist and illustrator. Affected by the style naive art he worked particularly as a graphic artist and as an Illustrator of children's books. Besides this he painted pictures in the style of naive art. Referred to as a "naïve" painter, his works exhibit a dry wit and refreshingly candid, satirical view of life.
Stefan Berger-Teichmann is a contemporary Swiss painter who specializes in abstract art. He has exhibited his works in various galleries and museums in Switzerland, Germany, and the United States.
Berger-Teichmann's paintings are characterized by their expressive use of color, texture, and form. He often employs a variety of techniques and mediums to create layered, multi-dimensional works that invite the viewer to engage with the art on both a visceral and intellectual level. His work is often inspired by natural landscapes, but he also draws on his own emotional experiences and personal memories to create abstract compositions that are both powerful and evocative.
Jakob Bernoulli was a Swiss mathematician. One of the founders of probability theory and mathematical analysis. Johann Bernoulli's older brother. Proved a special case of the law of large numbers - Bernoulli's theorem. Professor of Mathematics at the University of Basel (since 1687). Foreign member of the Paris Academy of Sciences (1699) and the Berlin Academy of Sciences (1702).
Jacob Bernoulli contributed greatly to the development of analytical geometry and the birth of the calculus of variations. Bernoulli's lemniscate is named after him. He also investigated the cycloid, the chain line, and especially the logarithmic spiral. The last of these curves Jacob willed to be drawn on his grave; through ignorance, Archimedes' spiral was depicted there.
Jacob Bernoulli is credited with significant achievements in series theory, differential calculus, probability theory, and number theory, where the "Bernoulli numbers" are named after him.
Max Bill, a Swiss artist, architect, painter, typeface designer, industrial designer, and graphic designer, emerged as a key figure in 20th-century art and design. Born in Winterthur, Switzerland, in 1908, Bill's education at the Bauhaus under luminaries like Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, and Oskar Schlemmer profoundly influenced his multidisciplinary approach. His work spans from graphic design, where he was instrumental in shaping Swiss design from the 1950s, to product design with iconic creations like the Ulmer Hocker, a versatile stool designed in 1954.
Bill's contributions to concrete art and his role in founding the Ulm School of Design alongside Inge Aicher-Scholl and Otl Aicher in 1953, mark him as a pioneer who blurred the lines between art, design, and architecture. His theoretical writings and teaching at the Ulm School further underscored his commitment to integrating art with science, shaping a generation of designers and artists.
Noteworthy among his architectural works are his own house and studio built in Zurich-Höngg in the early 1930s and a series of public sculptures that challenge perceptions and engage public spaces in innovative ways. His legacy also includes influential roles in politics, contributions to the field of education, and the establishment of foundations to preserve his work and ideals.
Bill's extensive oeuvre, which also includes timepieces designed for Junghans and a multitude of sculptures, demonstrates his belief in the unity of form and function and the possibility of art to embody the principles of the new physics of the 20th century. His works are not only held in high regard for their aesthetic and functional qualities but also for their ability to convey complex theoretical ideas in tangible forms.
For collectors and experts in art and antiques, Max Bill remains a figure of immense importance, whose works continue to inspire and influence contemporary design and art practices. Sign up for updates related to Max Bill to stay informed about new product sales and auction events showcasing his remarkable contributions to modern art and design.
Edmond Bille was a Swiss artist. Bille engaged in intense and varied activity as painter, engraver, stained glass artist, journalist, writer, and politician. He is the creator of the stained glass windows around the altar of the Cathedral of Lausanne, capital of the Swiss canton of Vaud.
Werner Bischof was a Swiss photographer and photojournalist. He became a full member of Magnum Photos in 1949, the first new photographer to join its original founders. Bischof's book Japan (1954) was awarded the Prix Nadar in 1955.
Johann Ludwig Bleuler, sometimes called Louis Bleuler, was a Swiss landscape painter, engraver and publisher.
He studied painting under his father, the painter Johann Heinrich Bleuler the Elder (1758-1823), and his older brother, the painter Johann Heinrich Bleuler the Younger (1787-1857). He traveled extensively in the picturesque Rhine region, painting landscapes and making sketches, and made study trips to Brussels, Amsterdam, and Paris.
In 1824 Bleuler founded his own publishing company in Schaffhausen and from 1827 he worked on a series of engravings of landscapes of the Rhine from its source in the glaciers of the Alps, eventually publishing a complete set of engravings by about 1843. All of the aquatints were hand-colored using the gouache technique, giving them the appearance of the work of old masters.
Johann Heinrich Bleuler the Elder was a Swiss landscape painter and engraver.
Bleuler the Elder first trained as a porcelain painter at the Kilchberg-Schooren porcelain manufactory near Zurich. In the early 1780s he settled in Feuertalen and became the founder of the dynasty of artists that is known as the "Bleulerische Malschule". His two sons, Johann Heinrich Bleuler the Younger (1787-1857) and Johann Ludwig Bleuler (1792-1850), also became artists and continued their father's work. And in total, there were up to 25 artists in the dynasty, including godchildren and other relatives.
Bleuler the Elder created mainly landscapes of the Rhine, painted in gouache and watercolor, panoramic views of Swiss cities. He also worked as an art teacher.
François-Louis David Bocion was a Swiss impressionist painter. He was originally interested in historical subjects, then became a landscape painter and marine painter. He painted some of his famous paintings in Venice, and Bocion gained international fame primarily as the "painter of Lake Geneva.
Arnold Böcklin was a Swiss symbolist painter.
Influenced by Romanticism, Böcklin's symbolist use of imagery derived from mythology and legend often overlapped with the aesthetic of the Pre-Raphaelites. Many of his paintings are imaginative interpretations of the classical world, or portray mythological subjects in settings involving classical architecture, often allegorically exploring death and mortality in the context of a strange, fantasy world.
Rudolf Bodmer was a Swiss painter, draughtsman and engraver.
Rudolf was the older brother of the famous painter Johann Carl Bodmer (1809-1893), with whom he started his own business around 1825. They produced graphic prints especially for the Zurich publisher F. S. Füssli. Rudolf Bodmer became a skilled printmaker and produced a large number of aquatints of landscape and architectural views, particularly of castles and palaces in the Middle Rhine for a wide variety of publishers.
Rodolphe-Théophile Bosshard was a Swiss painter who is best known for his cubist-inspired landscapes and nudes.
Bosshard is considered one of the influential Swiss artists of the early 20th century. He exhibited in Paris together with Pablo Picasso and Marc Chagall.
Francis Bott war als deutscher Maler ein Vertreter der „Zweiten École de Paris“, also des französischen „Informel“. Sein künstlerisches Schaffen weist zwei scheinbar gegensätzliche Schwerpunkte auf: surreale, phantastische Gegenständlichkeit und tachistisch, geometrische Abstraktion. Sein Werk besteht aus Gemälden, Glasmalereien, Handzeichnungen, Aquarellen, Gouachen, Plastiken und Objekten; auch als Bühnenbildner hat er sich betätigt.
Mario Botta, a Swiss architect born in 1943, is celebrated for his profound contributions to contemporary architecture. His work is characterized by a robust geometric style and profound respect for historical context, often integrating modern elements with traditional designs. Botta's designs are known for their distinct use of brick and strong shapes, such as circles, squares, and triangles, which make his buildings instantly recognizable.
Among his notable projects are the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Cathedral of the Resurrection in Evry, France. These structures exemplify his approach to blending new construction technologies with classical forms. The museum, in particular, showcases his ability to manipulate space and light, creating dynamic environments for displaying art. His buildings are not just structures but are often considered sculptural works that enhance their surroundings.
Mario Botta's influence extends beyond architecture into design and education, where he has mentored generations of architects. His work is displayed in numerous exhibitions worldwide and serves as a testament to the enduring power of integrating contemporary design with traditional elements. Collectors and experts in architecture appreciate Botta’s unique ability to transform ordinary spaces into extraordinary places.
For those interested in the innovative work of Mario Botta, consider signing up for updates on new project unveilings and auction events related to his creations. This subscription ensures you stay informed about the latest developments and opportunities to engage with Botta's influential designs.
Eugen Felix Prosper Bracht was a German landscape painter.
A late Romanticist painter, Bracht was known for his moody landscapes and coastal scenes in North Germany, and began a sketching trip through Syria, Palestine and Egypt from 1880 to 1881. In 1882, he became a Professor of Landscape Painting at the Prussian Academy of Arts.
Later, Bracht became a representative of German Impressionism.
In 1901, he obtained a teaching position at the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts that he held until 1919.
Otto Brunfels (also Brunsfels, Braunfels) was a German theologian, botanist and physician.
After studying theology and philosophy at the University of Mainz, Brunfels went to a Cartesian monastery near Strasbourg and later became interested in botany there. 1524 he opened a school in Strasbourg. In 1530, Brunfels began studying medicine at the University of Basel and two years later became city physician in Bern, where he remained for the rest of his life.
In addition to theological works, Brunfels published works on education, Arabic, pharmacy, and botany. His Herbarium Vivae Icones (1530 and 1536) and Contrafayt Kreüterbuch (1532-1537) contain woodcuts of German plants with their German common names. The 135 original woodcuts are detailed, accurate, and realistic depictions of living plants by the German artist and engraver Hans Weiditz. Brunfels' work contributed to the shift away from medieval outdated herbalism to the establishment of botany as a modern science. Carl Linnaeus considered Brunfels one of the founders of modern botany.
Leo Brunschwiler was a Swiss painter and stone sculptor.
Brunschwiler trained as a stone sculptor in Küssnacht and attended the Basel School of Applied Arts in Olten. In 1945, he began working as a master sculptor of sculpted tombstones, striving to give this craft the status of high art. Brunschwiler became a member of the Association of Swiss Master Sculptors and Stonemasons and for decades presented his work to a competent jury in specialized competitions. He also published his work in the association's journal Kunst und Stein ("Art and Stone"). These efforts were not in vain, and by the end of his life the sculptor was internationally recognized.
Leo Brunschwiler also created altars for churches and fountains in public places.
Frank Buchser was a Swiss painter. He is noted for his portraits of notable American figures of the post civil war period and for his works with Oriental themes.
His oeuvre comprises about 1000 works in oil, including about 300 full paintings. The remainder are mostly independent sketches, often executed with spiritedly rapid strokes, which show the artist's pronounced sense of color and light. The most important collection of his works are in the Kunstmuseum Solothurn (80 paintings) and the Kunstmuseum Basel (over 1000 oil sketches, drawings and watercolors and sketchbooks).
Daniele Buetti is a Swiss visual artist who works in several modes including installation and intervention. The media he works with includes photography, sculpture, drawing, sound, video and digital forms. He is professor at University of Fine Arts Munster where he has taught since 2004. He lives and works in Zurich, Switzerland and Münster, Germany.
His work has been described as "an expression of world-weariness and the individual’s precarious existential orientation." In the 1990s Buetti's work served as a visual critiques of the consumption of beauty. This work often appropriated images of models and high-fashion consumer products from magazines that were pierced with a ballpoint pen.
