You may not have heard of this artist before, however If you were from Switzerland, you may recognise his artwork on the portraits for the Swiss postage stamps.
Albert Anker, a Swiss born painter and illustrator (1831-1910).
When researching this artist, the first image that struck me was his watercolour self-portrait (below). A very stern looking face with the look of that scary old snow gritting neighbour from Home Alone.
To be honest, I see an older version of myself in this portrait. Not that I've hit anyone over the head with a rusty snow shovel, but the general staring look of content, the big gingery grey beard and the fine wiry receding hairline. All reflections of my own ageing appearance.
Apart from self portraits, Anker liked to study and paint the lives around him. He lived in the countryside of Ins in Switzerland and very often documented the social lives of the villagers. One of my favourite paintings I found whilst researching Anker is the painting below,
"The Drinker" (1868) not only is it a well painted portrait, but if you look closely there is a story being told. You can see the jacket is old and torn. The trousers are ripped and dirty. Is this a man who has had a hard days work? Or is this a traveller wondering where his next meal will be coming from? My guess would be the latter. The bag and the stick sitting close to him on the chair may suggest that. Since studying at art college, I have been told to look at paintings through the eyes of the painter and ask yourself questions. Why have they painted this? Why did they put that there? Why use this colour? etc. With this painting, at first glance, you see a man having a drink. You may move on. But when observing a painting, stop and look. What is the mans expression? Happy or sad? What is he drinking? It looks clear. Water? Doubt it with a glass and bottle that size. Gin would be my bet. Why is he drinking it? He looks depressed. Maybe he's had an argument with his wife and needed some time alone. He has gone to the pub to relax. Just through this one painting, we have created a scene. A background. You could probably imagine hearing the chatter and laughter of people in the pub behind him. With these blogs, I would like to encourage my followers to do the same as me. Discuss the paintings I post up. Look closely at the painting. What do you see? Have you even heard of Anker before? Why don't you look for more artwork by him? You might find some inspiration in some of his other paintings.
QUICK HISTORY
Albert Anker has been trademarked as the "National Painter" of Switzerland. Mainly for his well detailed paintings which were very well received within the rural community where he lived. After the death of both his mother and brother at the age of 16, he convinced his father that he wanted to be an artist. In 1854 he enrolled into the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-arts, and joined the studio of Charles Gleyre, the famous Swiss artist, in Paris. He trained at this institute for 5 years before returning back home and marrying Anna Rufli in 1864. The couple had 6 children together. Unfortunately 2 of his children died very early on in their lives. Anker would often include his 4 surviving children in his paintings.
Anker died in 1910 at the age of 79 at his home in Anet.