Franz Gertsch (8 March 1930 – 21 December 2022) was a Swiss painter who was known for his large format hyperrealistic portraits.

Biography

Gertsch was born 1930 in

Mörigen Mörigen is a municipality in the Biel/Bienne administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. History Mörigen is first mentioned in 1196 as ''Moringen''. Prehistoric settlements During the Bronze Age the lake shore near modern ...

, Switzerland. Between 1947 and 1952 he studied with Max von Mühlenen and Hans Schwarzenbach in Bern. In 1972, he took part in the

documenta 5 documenta 5 was the fifth edition of documenta, a quinquennial contemporary art exhibition. It was held between 30 June and 8 October 1972 in Kassel, West Germany. The artistic director was Harald Szeemann '' Harald Szeemann (11 June 1933 – 18 ...

Kassel Kassel (; in Germany, spelled Cassel until 1926) is a city on the Fulda River in northern Hesse, Germany. It is the administrative seat of the Regierungsbezirk Kassel and the district of the same name and had 201,048 inhabitants in December 2020 ...

with his painting "Medici". He is known for his realistic paintings and woodcuts for which he developed a new technique. From 1976 to 2013 he created a total of 28 paintings and 15 monochrome

woodcuts Woodcut is a relief printing technique in printmaking. An artist carves an image into the surface of a block of wood—typically with gouges—leaving the printing parts level with the surface while removing the non-printing parts. Areas that ...

; he worked on a single composition for up to a year. In 2002 Gertsch opened a

Museum Franz Gertsch Museum Franz Gertsch is an art museum in Burgdorf, Switzerland Burgdorf (french: Berthoud; High Alemannic: ''Bùùrdlef'') is the largest city in the Emmental in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It was the capital of the district of the ...

in Burgdorf. On the 8 March 2019, Frantz Gertschs birthday, the Museums expansion was inaugurated by the Federal Councilor

Simonetta Sommaruga Simonetta Myriam Sommaruga (born 14 May 1960) is a Swiss politician who has served as a Member of the Swiss Federal Council since 2010. A member of the Social Democratic Party (SP/PS), she was President of the Swiss Confederation in 2015 and 202 ...

. Gertsch died on 21 December 2022, at the age of 92 in Riggisberg in Canton Bern.

Works

Source:

Early works (1969–1976)

* Huah (1969) * Maria mit Kindern (1971) * Medici (1971/72) * Gaby und Luciano (1973) * At Luciano's House (1973) * Barbara und Gaby (1974) * Marina schminkt Luciano (1975)

Main works (1978–2004)

* Patti Smith I, II, V (1978/79) * Selbstbildnis (1980) * Johanna I (1983/84) * Silvia I (1998) * Gräser I (1995/96) * Gräser IV (1998/99)

Late works

Source: * Herbst (2007/08) * Sommer (2008/2009) * Winter (2009) * Frühling (2011)

Exhibitions

Source:

Solo exhibitions

*2020 **"Franz Gertsch. Die Siebziger", Museum Franz Gertsch, Burgdorf, LENTOS Kunstmuseum Linz, Linz **"Franz Gertsch. Looking Back. Hommage zum Neunzigsten", Graphische Sammlung ETH Zürich, Zürich *2019 **"Franz Gertsch. Es malt sich wie von selbst", Museum Franz Gertsch, Burgdorf **"Franz Gertsch. Frühling, Sommer, Herbst und Winter", Museum Franz Gertsch, Burgdorf **"Franz Gertsch. Winter und Sommer", Galerie Kornfeld, Bern *2018 **"Franz Gertsch. Bilder sind meine Biografie", Kunsthalle zu Kiel, Kiel **"Franz Gertsch: Polyfocal Allover", Swiss Institute (SI), New York **"Franz Gertsch. Looking at you", Museum Franz Gertsch, Burgdorf *2017 **"Franz Gertsch visages paysages", Musée Jenisch, Vevey **"Franz Gertsch", Galerie Skopia, Genf **"Franz Gertsch. Sommer", Museum Franz Gertsch, Burgdorf **"Franz Gertsch. Neu und unbekannt", Museum Franz Gertsch, Burgdorf **"Franz Gertsch. Selected monumental woodcuts", Galleri K, TEFAF Maastricht *2016 **"Werke von Franz Gertsch", Museum Franz Gertsch, Burgdorf **"Franz Gertsch. Portraits and Landscapes: Woodcuts", Galleri K, Oslo *2015 **"Franz Gertsch. Gewachsen", Museum Franz Gertsch, Burgdorf **"Franz Gertsch. Frühe Holzschnitte", Kabinett, Museum Franz Gertsch, Burgdorf **"Franz Gertsch. Johanna & Co. feat. Andy Warhol", Museum Franz Gertsch, Burgdorf **"Franz Gertsch", Galerie Michael Haas, Berlin *2014 **"Franz Gertsch", Galerie Skopia, Genf **"Franz Gertsch", Les Abattoirs, Toulouse **"Franz Gertsch: Die Jahreszeiten", Museum Kurhaus Kleve, Kleve **"Franz Gertsch. Triptychon Guadeloupe", Museum Folkwang, Essen *2013 **"Franz Gertsch Holzschnitte. Aus der Natur gerissen", Museum Sinclair-Haus, Bad Homburg **"Franz Gertsch. Geheimnis Natur", Museum Frieder Burda, Baden-Baden *2012 **"Franz Gertsch. Momentaufnahme", Museum Franz Gertsch, Burgdorf **"Franz Gertsch. Die vier Jahreszeiten", Museum Franz Gertsch, Burgdorf *2011 **"Franz Gertsch. Aus dem Frühwerk", museum franz gertsch, Burgdorf **"Franz Gertsch. Die vier Jahreszeiten", museum franz gertsch, Burgdorf **"Franz Gertsch. Das grosse Gras", Museum Franz Gertsch, Burgdorf **"Franz Gertsch. Jahreszeiten. Werke von 1983 bis 2011", Kunsthaus Zürich **"Franz Gertsch – Holzschnitte", Galerie Haas AG, Zürich **"Franz Gertsch – Holzschnitte- ausgewählte Separatdrucke", Galerie Kornfeld und Cie., Bern *2010 **"Rot & Blau. Franz Gertsch und Max von Mühlenen", museum franz gertsch, Burgdorf **"Franz Gertsch. Drei Gemälde aus dem Vier Jahreszeiten Zyklus", museum franz gertsch, Burgdorf *2009 **"Franz Gertsch. 1950 und 1960: Skizzen und Vorzeichnungen zu, Tristan Bärmann‘", museum franz gertsch, Burgdorf **"Franz Gertsch. Die neuen Jahreszeiten", museum franz gertsch, Burgdorf **"Eigenleben der Farbe. Farbproben zur Druckgraphik von Franz Gertsch", museum franz gertsch, Burgdorf **"Franz Gertsch – Gräser – Holzschnitte", Galerie Lindner, Wien **"Silvia", Galerie Haas & Fuchs, Berlin *2008 **"Franz Gertsch", Galerie Skopia, Genf **"Franz Gertsch", Patrick Painter Inc., Santa Monica, CA **"Franz Gertsch. Herbst", museum franz gertsch, Burgdorf **"Franz Gertsch. Arbeiten auf Papier", museum franz gertsch, Burgdorf **"Franz Gertsch", Galerie Lovers of Fine Art, Gstaad *2007 "REHAU Aussicht Franz Gertsch", REHAU ART, Rehau *2006 **"Franz Gertsch – Monumentale Holzschnitte", museum franz gertsch, Burgdorf **"Franz Gertsch. Retrospektive – das malerische Werk 1951–1986", MUMOK Museum für Moderne Kunst Stiftung **Ludwig, Wien, zusammen mit ***"Franz Gertsch. Naturporträts", Albertina, Wien ***"Franz Gertsch, Ikon Gallery", Birmingham *2005 **"Franz Gertsch. Die Retrospektive", museum franz gertsch, Burgdorf, Kunstmuseum Bern, Ludwig Forum für Internationale Kunst, Aachen (2006), Kunsthalle Tübingen (2006) **"M+M – Der Johanna Zyklus", museum franz gertsch, Burgdorf **"Franz Gertsch – Werke aus der Sammlung Stiftung Willy Michel", museum franz gertsch, Burgdorf **"Chuck Close. Franz Gertsch", Galerie Haas & Fuchs, Berlin, galerie im park, Burgdorf **"Franz Gertsch, Aquarelle – Schottland 1961–1965" – Museum Kurhaus Kleve **"Franz Gertsch. Fang Lijun. The Languages of Nature”, White Space, Peking *2004 **"Franz Gertsch – Werke aus der Sammlung Stiftung Willy Michel", museum franz gertsch, Burgdorf **"Franz Gertsch. Aquarelle – Schottland 1961–1965", Graphische Sammlung der ETH Zürich, Museum Kurhaus Kleve **"Presence", The Speed Art Museum, Louisville, Kentucky **"Franz Gertsch – Patti Smith”, Gagosian Gallery, New York **"Martin Disler. Franz Gertsch", Galerie & Edition René Steiner, Erlach *2003 **"Franz Gertsch. Silvia, kestnergesellschaft, Hannover **"Franz Gertsch – Patti Smith", museum franz gertsch, Burgdorf, Pinakothek der Moderne, München *2002 **"Franz Gertsch", Galerie Monica de Cardenas, Mailand **"Franz Gertsch. Das Gesamtwerk 1987–2002", Eröffnungsausstellung museum franz gertsch, Burgdorf **"Franz Gertsch. Monumentale Holzschnitte", Bündner Kunstmuseum, Chur *2001 "Franz Gertsch. Xylographies monumentales 1986–2000", Centre culturel suisse, Paris *2000 **"Franz Gertsch. Holzschnitte, Gräser", Galerie Haas & Fuchs, Berlin **"Franz Gertsch”, Hess Collection at Vinopolis, London *1999 **"Franz Gertsch – Gemälde und Holzschnitte 1987 bis 1997", Museum Kurhaus Kleve **"Stille Wasser. 7 Räume, 7 Künstler um Franz Gertsch", Kunstmuseum Thun *1997 **"Franz Gertsch. Preisträger des Kaiserrings Goslar", Mönchehaus Museum für moderne Kunst, Goslar **"Franz Gertsch – Landschaften und Porträts 1986–1995", Hamburger Bahnhof – Museum für Gegenwart, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin **"Franz Gertsch”, Cabinet des estampes, Musée d'art et d'histoire, Genf **"Franz Gertsch. Holzschnitte”, Kunsthalle Burgdorf *1996 "Franz Gertsch", Frankfurt, MMK Museum für Moderne Kunst *1995 "Franz Gertsch”, Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art, Nagoya *1994 **"Franz Gertsch. Holzschnitte 1986–1994", Staatliche Kunsthalle Baden-Baden **"Franz Gertsch. Travaux récents", Galerie Patrick Roy, Lausanne **"Franz Gertsch. Holzschnitte und Malerei auf Papier", Kunstmuseum Bern **"Franz Gertsch. Holzschnitte 1986–1994", Galerie Kornfeld & Cie., Bern *1993 "Franz Gertsch. Landschaften", Graphische Sammlung der ETH, Zürich, Städtische Galerie im Städelschen Kunstinstitut, Frankfurt a. M. *1992 "Franz Gertsch. Gravures sur bois 1986–1991", Galerie Patrick Roy, Lausanne *1991 **"Franz Gertsch, Eröffnungsausstellung", Galerie Rigassi, Bern **"Franz Gertsch. Holzschnitte", Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus, München **"Franz Gertsch. Nine Large Scale Woodcuts”, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, D.C., San José Museum of Art *1990 "Franz Gertsch. Large Scale Woodcuts”, Serie "Projects", Museum of Modern Art, New York *1989 "Franz Gertsch. Bois gravés monumentaux. Grossformatige Holzschnitte. Large-scale woodcuts”, Cabinet des estampes und Musée Rath, Musée d’art et d’histoire, Genf *1986 **"Franz Gertsch", Museum Moderner Kunst, Wien, Kunsthalle Basel **"Franz Gertsch. Johanna II", Kunsthalle Bern *1983 "Franz Gertsch, Arbeiten 1981/82/83", Knoedler, Zürich *1981/82 "Franz Gertsch. Major Works”, Louis K. Meisel Gallery, New York *1980 "Franz Gertsch", Kunsthaus Zürich, Sprengelmuseum Hannover *1979 "Franz Gertsch", Galerie Veith Turske, Köln *1976 "Franz Gertsch", Galerie Veith Turske, Köln *1975 "Franz Gertsch", Akademie der Künste, Berlin, Kunstverein Braunschweig, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf, Kunsthalle Basel *1973 "Franz Gertsch", Nancy Hoffmann Gallery, New York *1972 **"Franz Gertsch", Galerie Mikro, Berlin **"Franz Gertsch", Kunstmuseum Luzern *1971 "Franz Gertsch", Galerie Verna, Zürich *1970 **Galerie Stampa, Basel **"Franz Gertsch – Neue Bilder II", Galerie Toni Gerber, Bern **"Franz Gertsch – Neue Bilder I", Galerie Toni Gerber, Bern *1969 "Franz Gertsch – Bilder und Collagen", Galerie Riehentor, Basel *1968 "Franz Gertsch. Bilder und Collagen 1968", Galerie Krebs, Bern *1966 "Franz Gertsch", Orell Füssli, Zürich *1965 "Franz Gertsch. Aquarelle", Galerie Bertram, Burgdorf *1964 "Franz Gertsch", Anlikerkeller, Bern *1962 "Franz Gertsch", Anlikerkeller, Bern *1955 "Franz Gertsch. Malerei, Graphik", Anlikerkeller, Bern *1951 "Franz Gertsch", Galerie Simmen, Bern

Scholarships and awards

* 1949 De Harris scholarship * 1967 Louise Aeschlimann scholarship * 1974–75 DAAD scholarship, Berlin * 1997

Goslarer Kaiserring Since 1975, the Goslarer Kaiserring award has been given, by the city of Goslar, to a distinguished international artist of modern and contemporary art. The award is for artists whose work has given the contemporary art significant impetus. The pri ...

* 1998 Kulturpreis der Bürgi-Willert-Foundation * 2005 Honorary citizen

Christian-Albrechts-Universität Kiel University, officially the Christian-Albrecht University of Kiel, (german: Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, abbreviated CAU, known informally as Christiana Albertina) is a university in the city of Kiel, Germany. It was founded in ...

, Kiel * 2006 Honorary citizen

Rüschegg Rüschegg is a municipality in the Bern-Mittelland administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is also a Swiss Reformed Church parish. History Rüschegg is first mentioned around 1417-28 as ''Ruesseg''. Until 1860 Rüsch ...

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Gertsch, Franz 1930 births 2022 deaths Swiss male painters Swiss contemporary artists 20th-century Swiss painters 21st-century Swiss painters 21st-century Swiss male artists People from Biel/Bienne District Photorealist artists 20th-century Swiss male artists