Peasant-style painting ("Bauernmalerei") in Appenzell and Toggenburg is unique among alpine folk art. Today it encompasses many forms of expression, and its history demonstrates the ambiguity of the term "peasant art". In Eastern Switzerland, painted works depicting farming and rural life can be traced back to the sixteenth century. It includes rustic murals painted on wooden walls, upper pieces for Swiss or alliance window panes and peasant-style furniture painting during the 1750-1850 period. In the nineteenth century, "Sennenstreifen" (long, narrow paintings of alpine cattle drives), milk pail bases, panel paintings and depictions of the traditional cattle drives up and down the mountains were made for farmers keen to show off their herds. In the second half of the twentieth century changes were seen in both the artwork itself and peoples' perceptions of it. Those interested in art became intrigued by peasant art, and it started to be used by businesses and the tourist industry in their advertising campaigns. Scientists and art enthusiasts pursued the "real" peasant art and believed this could only be found in works of the past, considering modern pieces to be nostalgic, hobby or souvenir art. This misconception has since been corrected. There was a great creative energy among the artists of the twentieth century, farmers who paint included, and this dynamism is as strong today. These artists have developed personal styles and found new forms of expression for the traditional subjects of alpine art.
Bartholomäus Lämmler: bottom of milk pail "1848 IR" © Museum Appenzell
Johannes Müller “View of Rossfall, Säntis, its surroundings and the alpine procession”, 1890 © Museum für Appenzeller Brauchtum, Urnäsch
Anna Babara Aemisegger-Geizendanner: “Alpine procession and dairy huts – with the seven Electors”, ca 1880 © Toggenburger Museum, Lichtensteig
Johann Ulrich Knechtli: Hochalp, 1903 © Museum für Appenzeller Brauchtum, Urnäsch
Franz Anton Haim: Alpine procession and farmhouse, 1889 © Museum Appenzell, Appenzell
Johannes Zülle: “View from Obere Petersalp”, ca 1920 © Stiftung für Appenzellische Volkskunde, Herisau
Johann Jakob Heuscher: Alpine procession and the restaurant Wirtschaft zum Sennhof, 1895 © Stiftung für Appenzellische Volkskunde, Herisau
Sibylle Neff: “His soil”, 1983 © Museum Appenzell
Niklaus Wenk: “Kreialp procession in the 1920s”, 1982 © Toggenburger Museum, Lichtensteig (Legat Erna und Curt Burgauer)
Willi Keller: Alpine procession in Brülisau, 2006 © Private collection
Albert Enzler. Alp mit Ziegen (1960) © Museum Appenzell
Johann Hautle in his atelier on the Meglisalp, (2015) © Museum Appenzell
Theres Tobler-Manser: Regetaag (2014, private property) © Museum Appenzell
Detailed description
Bauernmalerei rund um den Säntis (PDF, 496 kB, 31.05.2018)Ausführliche Beschreibung
Category
Canton
Connected traditions
Publications
Christoph Bernoulli, Erwin Burckhardt: Appenzeller Bauernmalerei. Basel, 1941
Bruno Bischofberger: Volkskunst aus Appenzell und dem Toggenburg. Zürich, 1973
Guy Filippa: Blick in eine Idylle. Bern, 1983
Rudolf Hanhart: Appenzeller Bauernmalerei. Mit einem Vorwort von Christoph Bernoulli. Teufen, 1959 (1970)
Rudolf Hanhart, Stefan Sonderegger: Appenzeller Bauernmalerei. Herisau, 1998
Ernst Hohl (Ed.): Bauernmalerei rund um den Säntis. Mit Beiträgen von Simone Schaufelberger-Breguet, Hans Büchler, Hans Hürlemann, Peter Killer. Zürich, 1994.
Josef V. John: Einblicke. Faszination, Volkskunst und naive Kunst aus der Ostschweiz und aus dem Bodenseeraum. Herisau, 2003.
Links
Keywords
Contact
Appenzell Ausserrhoden Amt für Kultur
Appenzell Innerrhoden
Kulturamt
Appenzell Innerrhoden - Kulturamt - Kontakt
Museum Appenzell
Amt für Kultur des Kantons St. Gallen