PAINTING THE REALISM OFTHE SOLIDITY – Albert Anker: the reflex vision of a harmonic world order

ALBERT ANKER 1/3 – Only after his death in 1910 was there a first exposition dedicated to him. He has been called the national painter of Switzerland, because of his enduringly popular depictions of 19th-century Swiss village life. As you can observe, Anker’s portraiture reveals a pronounced desire for individualization. He studied theology, and continuing at the university of Halle, Germany, where he was inspired by the great art collections, becoming his artistic career.

ALBERT ANKER 2/3 – He moved to Paris, where attended the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts. During his studies, he produced a series of works, with historical and biblical themes. In 1864 he married Anna, and they had six children together. He depict both rural and urban table settings, in the tradition of Chardin, and their realist solidity reflecting Anker’s vision of a harmonic world order. As a painter he witnessed the social changes of his times. His paintings reflect the developments of the school and education system in Switzerland.

ALBERT ANKER 3/3 – His paintings have continued to enjoy a great popularity due to their general accessibility. In 1901, a stroke, which essentially paralyzed his right hand, reduced his ability to work. Ins, a village in Seeland, was his hometown, where he grew up and lived there for many years, even if he preferred to spend the winter months in Paris. To finish your outing in Ins, you can visit the Albert Anker House, the stunning farmhouse where he was born and spent much of his life. The rooms conveys a great deal of the artistic spirit and prevailing tastes of those times.