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Have you heard of the artist Albert Anker?
He received widespread recognition and acclaim in his day, including several gold medals at the prestigious
Paris Salon, respected by fellow artists across Europe, and was especially loved by his home country of Switzerland. This year marks 100 yrs. since his death and he remains more popular than ever. The few collective exhibits of his work in the past were always sold out in advance. I was thrilled to have this once in a lifetime opportunity to see the largest collection ever of his work coming from multiple private owners and museums.
I've seen many art exhibits over the years but this was
the one exhibition that surpasses them all (for me). I learned much from his painting technique, composition and storytelling that I hope to apply in my illustration work. I went around the exhibit several times and plan to return for another visit with the entire family (free entrance with my Raiffeisen bank card - yipee!). There were several surprises ... Many of the paintings on exhibit I'd never seen before. Another pleasant surprise was to see his tools, the
heavily used paint palette still showing how he arranged and mixed his colors. His Bible was also on display open to the book of
Job – the last passage he read before his death (in the original Hebrew text).
Even though Albert Anker spent his winter months in Paris, he continued to paint rural life around his home in
Ins, Switzerland (a village NW of Bern) and included local children in his paintings. He painted children more than any artist of the 19th C., but never depicted them in an overly sentimental view as was common in his day. He knew children well through his involvement with the Swiss schools and Anker addressed issues within the Swiss school system of his day. Anker always painted children as
individuals, showing them constantly learning through books, work, or play. He often contrasted children alongside elderly people in his paintings and would show the loving interaction between generations. Faith played an important part in his life and before becoming an artist, he had studied theology in Bern.
I've included a few of the many paintings on display. I could say much more but I'll let you enjoy the paintings. :-) If you are living anywhere near Bern, I can
highly recommend seeing this
exhibit. It continues until Sept. 5. You won't regret it!
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