Franz Gertsch, «Selbstbildnis», 1980
Acryl auf ungrundierter Baumwolle
Acrylic on unprimed cotton
257 × 391 cm
Privatsammlung / private collection
courtesy Galerie Michael Haas, Berlin
© Franz Gertsch

Franz Gertsch

Franz Gertsch, born in 1930 in the Swiss town of Mörigen, is numbered among the most significant contemporary artists in Switzerland. From the time of his international breakthrough at the documenta 5 in Kassel in 1972 until the present day, he has created a wide range of paintings and graphic works, which attempt a very special approach to reality. For Franz Gertsch, reality means both a pictorial and a conceptual challenge. Although he uses photos or slide projections as his points of departure, the paintings follow a logic all of their own, which aims for a rightness among all the elements. Woodcuts assume a special position in the works of Franz Gertsch. In a heretofore virtually unknown precision of execution
and in monumental formats reaching the limits of the possible in the production of
the paper alone, Gertsch has opened up new dimensions in this traditional medium.

With the opening of the Museum Franz Gertsch in Burgdorf, not far from his residence and workshop in Rüschegg, his outstanding life’s work will now be given appropriate recognition.

Biography

1930

Born on March 8 in Mörigen, canton of Bern
1947–50

Education at the art school of Max von Mühlenen, Bern
1950–52

Further education with Hans Schwarzenbach, Bern
1963

Marriage to Maria Meer
1969

First large-size realistic paintings
1970

Family and group scenes, "Situations"-portraits
1972

Participation at the „documenta V", Kassel, with the picture "Medici"
1976

Gertsch family moves to Rüschegg
1978

Participation at the Venice Biennale
1980

Gertsch starts painting a series of portraits with "Self-Portrait"; followed by "Irène", "Tabea", "Verena", "Christina" and "Johanna"
1986

Gertsch stops painting and concentrates on large-scale woodcuts
1994

Starts painting again; until 1999 "Gräser I-IV" and "Silvia I" (1997/98) are created
1999

Solo show at the Venice Biennale
2002

Opening of the Museum Franz Gertsch in Burgdorf/CH
2005

"Retrospective" at the Museum Franz Gertsch and the Kunstmuseum Bern, further venues of the exhibition are Aachen, Tubingen and Vienna (2006)
2007–11

Cycle of the four seasons with the paintings "Herbst" [Autumn] (2007/08), "Sommer" [Summer] (2008-09), "Winter" (2009) and "Frühling" [Spring] (2009-11)
2011

"Franz Gertsch. Seasons, works from 1983 to 2011", Kunsthaus Zürich
2011–13

"Guadeloupe" triptych with "Maria" (2011/12), "Bromelia" (2012) and "Soufrière" (2012/13)
2012

"Frühling" [Spring] (2009-11) is used as backdrop for the official photograph of the Swiss Government.
Swiss Post issues three stamps inspired by Franz Gertsch's woodcuts.
Museum Franz Gertsch celebrates its tenth anniversary.
2013–15

Woodcuts "Saintes Maries de la Mer" (2013) and "Bromelia" (2015)
Paintings "Waldweg (Campiglia Marittima)" (2013/14) and "Pestwurz" (2014/15)
2016–17

Woodcuts "Winter" (2016), "Sommer" (2017), "Maria II" (2017)
Painting "Meer" (2016/17)
2018–19

Paintings "Grosse Pestwurz" (2018) and "Gräser V" (2019)
2019

Paintings "Gräser V", "Gräser VI", "Gräser VII" (2019)
2019

Opening of Museum Franz Gertsch's extension building
2020–21

Exhibition "Franz Gertsch. The Seventies" celebrating the artist's 90th birthday at Museum Franz Gertsch, Burgdorf (CH) and LENTOS Kunstmuseum Linz, Linz (A)
2021-22

Painting "Meer II" (2021/22)
2022-23

Anniversary exhibition "Kaleidoscope. Twenty Years of the Museum Franz Gertsch", Museum Franz Gertsch, Burgdorf (CH)
2022

Died on December 21 in Riggisberg, canton of Bern