Ernst Suter - A Lake View, 1930

Ernst Suter (1904-1987) Swiss

A Lake View With Water Reflections

oil on board
gold frame included
signed and dated Ernst Suter 1930
board dimensions 12 x 16.14 inches (30.5 x 41 cm)
frame 16.33 x 20.07 inches (41.5 x 51 cm)

Provenance:
From a private collection, Hamburg.

Essay:
Presented here is a distinctive landscape by the Swiss artist Ernst Suter, a creator primarily known for his sculptural works, making this painting a noteworthy and rare acquisition.

Ernst Suter's upbringing in Basel's bourgeois society was marked by an early display of rebellious spirit, leading to his departure from canton school due to his involvement in a student uprising. He honed his artistic prowess under the tutelage of the renowned sculptor Jakob Probst, with whom he fostered a lifelong camaraderie. Suter's quest for artistic mastery propelled him to the cultural epicenter of Paris in 1923, where he studied under eminent sculptors such as Henri Bouchard and later, Paul Landowsky. His educational journey was enriched by attendance at the acclaimed Académie Julian and the Académie de la Grande Chaumière, further refining his sculptural technique.

A pivotal apprenticeship with Aristide Maillol in Marly-le-Roi spanned two years, post which Suter established his own studio. During this period, he mingled with notable figures like Wilhelm Gimmi and frequented the company of John Friedrich Vuilleumier, often crossing paths with the artistic virtuoso Charles Häusermann.

Suter's return to Basel in 1934 marked a new chapter in his life, and by 1939, he had embraced a union with his second wife, Anna Ernst, a medical doctor. The subsequent years saw him settle in Aarau, where he embraced family life from 1946 onwards.

In the annals of 20th-century Swiss art, Ernst Suter is lauded as a paramount figure among the traditionalist sculptors, sharing the limelight with Eduard Spörri. His contributions to the public spaces of Aargau, particularly Aarau, are significant, and his collaborations with Basel architect Rudolf Christ left a tangible legacy. Suter's influence extended to his mentorship of aspiring artists, notably Hans Geissberger and Hugo Weber, who carried the torch of his sculptural vision. This painting, therefore, represents not just Suter's foray into the realm of canvas and color, but also a piece of Swiss art history, woven from the threads of his multifaceted career.