Matthias Frehner

A time of new beginnings In 1969, Franz Gertsch painted Huaa...!—which shows a wildly galloping man on horseback—after a film still from a magazine. Photographs have formed the basis for his work ever since, which he almost always takes himself. They include snapshots of the young Gertsch family, pictures from a trip to the South of France, photos of his encounters with Luciano Castelli and his dazzling circle of friends, and portraits of Patti Smith. This publication shows key works from the seventies, both in full views and with details in original size. Zeroing in on these almost abstract-looking details reveals the vibrant quality of the painting with its shimmering surfaces. FRANZ GERTSCH (b. 1930) celebrated his 90th birthday in 2020. With his participation in the documenta in Kassel in 1972 he rose to international fame as a Swiss Photorealist. The paintings in this book were done during this decisive creative phase. Exhibition An exhibition by the Museum Franz Gertsch in cooperation with the LENTOS Kunstmuseum Linz. Languages: German and English

The Hahnloser Collection was created in the early twentieth century in close friendly exchange between the collectors Arthur and Hedy Hahnloser-Bühler and their famous artist friends. The book provides with some 120 works an overview of this unique international collection of Modernist art as well as illustrating its exemplary cultural-political character. The catalogue sheds light on the collectors’ close contact with their artist friends including Pierre Bonnard, Ferdinand Hodler, Henri Matisse and Felix Vallotton. It provides an insight into unknown aspects of the artists’ lives, their creative work and the motivation and passions of the collectors themselves. Today the collection is largely in the possession of the collectors’ heirs or has been donated to the art museums of Bern and Winterthur.

The princes of Liechtenstein were enthusiastic art lovers. From the seventeenth century their collections continued to grow with each generation, and because of the individual preferences the main areas of focus demonstrated a great thematic variety. The catalogue offers a representative cross-section through the immense treasures of the dynasty.

This is the first major exploration of the works of American abstract painter and watercolorist Suzan Frecon (b. 1941), critically acclaimed for her sensitive arrangement of color, form, and texture, and for the philosophical resonance of her art. By restricting herself to nonrepresentational forms, earth-based colors, and, in the case of her watercolors, “found” pieces of paper, Frecon achieves an unequaled sense of balance and openness in her work. The book features ten oil paintings and thirty watercolors dating from the late 1990s to 2007. form, color, illumination celebrates the uniqueness of Frecon's painting and articulates how her work distinguishes itself within the history of abstract painting. The authors describe in-depth how her artistic process and materials are an integral part of her focus and aesthetic. Included is an essay revealing the "ethics” of her aesthetics––an argument for abstraction and an attention to truth that is not divorced from social and environmental concerns. Distributed for The Menil CollectionExhibition Schedule:The Menil Collection, Houston (March 6 – May 11, 2008) Kunstmuseum Bern (June 11 – September 28, 2008)