Hans Erni

Biographical Sketch

The painter and graphic artist Hans Erni was born on February 21, 1909 in Lucerne. After an apprenticeship as surveyor and draftsman (1924-27), he attended the Lucerne school of arts and crafts and then went to the Académie Julian in Paris in 1928. Went on to the State School for Free and Applied Art in Berlin (1929-30). Returned to Switzerland (1932-1934) and then settled in Paris again, where he was one of the co-founders of the group Abstraction-Création. In this period he created abstract compositions of curved and intertwining strips of color. Influences from all the avant-garde movements (Derain, Braque, Gris, Picasso) lead him by the end of the 30's to his unmistakable style: a decorative linear Neoclassical which attempts to combine abstract elements with Realism. In 1937 he becomes co-founder of the group of abstract artists 'Allianz' in Zurich. He uses his drawing skills to create posters for a great many social and business interests, and also carries out monumental mural paintings and sgraffito, book illustrations, stamps for Switzerland and Liechtenstein, theatre sets, illustrations, and ceramics and reliefs. Particularly noteworthy, though, is his extensive graphic work, which, along with his public commissions, established his reputation. His oeuvre showed use of a wide range of artistic techniques. In the field of graphic art, the lithograph took preference. He received honors and awards, and in 1977 established the Hans Erni Foundation. He began a 30-meter-long wall mural for the auditorium of the Hans Erni Museum, opened in 1979 in the Lucerne tourist office. ek

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Registers of works:

Oeuvrekatalog in 5 Bänden: Hans Erni: Ein Weg zum Nächsten. Pfäffikon, 1976;

Oeuvrekatalog: L'oeuvre lithographié et gravé de Hans Erni. Published by Pierre Cailler, Geneva 1969-1971;

References:

Hans Erni. Werkverzeichnis der Lithographien (catalogue raisonné of the lithographs). Published by the Hans Erni Foundation, Lucerne, ABC Verlag, Zurich 1993

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Note:

The references given are not meant as a list of the best works available on the subject, but simply reflect the author's sources.

Registers and catalogues of works are included when known and correspond to the information given in the index.