The World of BLONDEMONKEY:From Vivid Hues to Deep Narratives
In the realm of contemporary art, certain visionaries distinguish themselves through their unique artistic approach. BLONDEMONKEY is one such luminary, renowned for his “pop optic art,” a classification previously presented by the writer of this essay in various Chinese and Austrian art magazines. This art encompasses three distinct genres: pop art, op art, and a […]
The Chromatic Mysticism of KALCHIE: A Fusion of Art and Emotion
Kalchie, the enigmatic artist, possesses a unique ability to transport viewers into a world where color and mysticism converge. Her oeuvre is a profound exploration of the emotional depths that colors can plumb while simultaneously crafting visually arresting artwork. At first glance, her work may seem to elude the untrained eye, but upon closer examination, […]
Posthumanist Palettes: Gerd Rehme’s Dive into the Human-Machine Epoch
Posthumanism, a discourse that explores the evolving nature of humanity in the face of rapid technological advancement, offers a provocative lens through which we can examine Gerd Rehme’s artistic journey. Central to posthumanism is the idea that human beings and technology are not distinct, but rather co-evolving entities. Within this paradigm, Rehme’s work becomes a […]
Julius Voegtli: A Swiss Impressionist Pioneer in Hainan Museum
as part of the grand exhibition ALL RIVERS FLOW TO THE SEA at Hainan Tanka Museum in China Opening Ceremony: 22 September 2023, 10 AMDuration: 22 September 2023 – 22 November 2023 In the vast tableau of Impressionist art, while some names gleam brightly, others, equally deserving, have often been relegated to the periphery. Among […]
Portrait of a Spahi in Uniform
From an artistic and social point of view, this painting is undoubtedly a masterpiece by Julius Voegtli. Only very few European artists of his epoch succeeded in creating such a convincing, poignant, and politically impactful portrait of an African soldier. It is a “document of humanity,” an eloquent testimony against racism, colonialism, and war. The […]
Woman in a Traditional Dress
The picture shows a bust-length portrait, done in watercolor, of a younger woman wearing what is the traditional regional folk costume of Bern – the Bernertracht or the Berner Sonntagstracht. Like many human characters drawn by Voegtli, she is looking directly at the viewer while her hair is partially covered with a black veil. In […]
Nude of Anna Voegtli
This watercolor painting depicts the nude figure of the artist’s wife, Anna. She is seated in profile on a bed draped in white cloth. She is leaning on her left arm and her face is turned away from the viewer; only her ear, neck, and pulledback dark hair are visible. The artist uses blue, yellow, […]
Saadi’s Bostan translated from Persian by Friedrich Rückert
Saadi’s Bostan, translated from Persian to German by Friedrich Rückert, has been published in a new edition by Wallstein Verlag. This translation, which is also known as “Duftgarten,” is one of the most beloved Persian works of literature and has been popular in Iran for centuries. The Bostan (Būstān) is a moralistic and anecdotal poem […]
Liberty Leading the People
“Liberty Leading the People” (French: “La Liberté guidant le people”) is a masterpiece painting that captured the essence of the French Revolution, which was a defining moment in European history. The painting is an allegory that depicts the symbolic figure of Liberty leading a group of people, with a French flag in her hand, in […]
Anna Voegtli with a Black Bow
Woodall’s (1997) view in her introduction to Portraiture: Facing the Subject can be applied to Julius Voegtli as well: Physiognomic interpretation was predicated upon a “symptomatic” relationship between external appearance and an invisible, internal self which was the ultimate subject of interest. The work of Courbet, Manet and the Impressionists interrogates this presumed identification between […]