We present the graphic works of the Swiss artist Albert Welti. In a dialogue with other practitioners of fantastical printmaking, the exhibition celebrates Welti’s exuberantly imaginative creativity and transforms the cabinet for a few months into a bewitching realm of fantasy.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Kunsthaus. For organizational reasons, prior registration is required. info@kunsthaus.ch, +41 44 253 84 84
Albert Welti (1862 Zurich – 1912 Bern) is regarded as the great "anachronistic" figure in Swiss art history. While Impressionism enjoyed widespread popularity during his lifetime, Welti remained critical of this style, preferring instead to draw inspiration from old German masters. His former teacher, Arnold Böcklin, remained a lifelong role model for him. However, Welti was by no means blind to the qualities of newer artistic movements. His paintings reveal a deep admiration for past eras, but it would be wrong to dismiss his work as merely derivative. His art possesses a distinctive and unique character that has not lost its allure to this day.
Albert Welti, Walpurgis Night, 1897, Kunsthaus Zürich, Collection of Prints and Drawings
Albert Welti, Apparition at Midnight, 1888, Kunsthaus Zürich, Collection of Prints and Drawings
Albert Welti, advertising illustration for the transport company Welti-Furrer, 1900, Kunsthaus Zürich, Collection of Prints and Drawings
Albert Welti, Faun Hunt, second plate, 1910, Kunsthaus Zürich, Collection of Prints and Drawings
Albert Welti, The Journey into the 20th Century, 1899/1900, Kunsthaus Zürich, Collection of Prints and Drawings
Albert Welti, Battle of the Ama-zons, 1888, Kunsthaus Zürich, Collection of Prints and Drawings
Albert Welti, Amazon on the Lookout, 1889, Kunsthaus Zürich, Collection of Prints and Drawings
Invitation to Welti's Wondrous Dream Worlds
Where is the exhibition located?
At the Moser-Building ground floor, see our interactive visitor guide!
Although Welti is mainly remembered as a painter, his lesser-known graphic work unveils a true treasure trove of fantasy. A 1926 critique once dismissed Welti's etchings as "confused adventures" and "allegorical wanderings." This view, however, loses its relevance when one delves into the richness of his works, which span all formats, from occasional graphics to large-scale pieces. Welti devoted himself intensively to printmaking, creating works that stand up to comparison with great masters like Francisco de Goya, Giovanni Battista Piranesi, or Max Klinger. Despite Böcklin’s advice to focus solely on painting, Welti remained committed to graphic art, finding in it an outlet for his creativity. Even in his smallest works, such as invitation cards and ex libris plates, his imaginative and often humorous style shines through. The exhibition at the Kunsthaus Zurich invites visitors to immerse themselves in Welti's imaginative dream worlds and discover his unique, monochrome visual language.
