Photo archiving of Swiss art

Where would fine art be without the line as a bare essential? Some artists use it as a simple aid to sketching or contouring. For others it is a stylistic device: it sets up tension, conveys motion and energy, or establishes depth and structure. The line divides, defines, shapes and connects. Discover the variety of works in our Photo Archive and observe how a line can express its value as a founding force in the composition.

In the Middle Ages still life merely served to adorn religious paintings or figurative depictions but in the Baroque era it developed into a genre of its own. Floral bouquets, tables with lavish spreads of fruit, wine and succulent dishes symbolise prosperity and opulence. But a still life can also be a memento mori, forcing us to confront death. In Modern art the theme undergoes a revival: everyday things are placed centre stage, experimented with and recombined, so that even an unglamorous object is worthy of a painting. Take a look at the diversity of works in our Photo Archive.

Women have always been present in the art world but for a long time they were seen primarily as models or as the motivating spirit and driving force behind their artistic husbands. As artists themselves they were largely denied public attention. This circumstance is reflected in the photography archives at SIK-ISEA; barely one fifth of the works documented there are by women. This gallery shows a selection. Efforts are required to boost the visibility of female artists. SIK-ISEA is keen to play its part and counter this imbalance. Examples are the series of interviews «On Words», the recently initiated research project on the paintings of Ottilie W. Roederstein and the new campaign launched by SIKART to publish more lexicon entries about women artists in history.

We are always on the go, forever moving around on foot, by car or by train. Come the holidays we might travel even farther afield as we yearn for distant climes or perhaps feel the urge to explore. A variety of Swiss artists lend shape and colour to this theme, inviting us with their motifs to join them on a journey. Discover a plethora of artworks in our Photo Archive.

It’s that time of the year when the days are so short and the nights seem even longer than they are. Darkness casts a veil of tranquillity and evokes a magical mood, but it also unsettles us and holds strange surprises in store. Swiss artists have approached this theme from many different angles, illuminating the shadows with stray light, accentuating the contrasts or transporting the viewer away into dreamland. Explore the many artworks in our Photo Archive.

Humour: a double-edged sword – and art is no exception. Some artists choose funny or quirky motifs, some depict ordinary, everyday things in humorous ways and some even poke fun at themselves. There are others who use humour as a weapon, wielding sarcasm and irony critically to address global, social or artistic problems, to question rules or make people think. Take a look at our Photo Archive and find out how Swiss artists tackle issues of their day through the lens of humour.

Artists engage with planet Earth, its fragility and the destruction wrought by humans. They raise urgent questions in their works. Will climate justice prevail? Do we have enough time? Does Switzerland have a duty to cut consumption radically? Are we capable, as citizens, of changing our lifestyle to reduce consumption and own fewer things? Take a look at the rich holdings in our Photo Archive.

Ever since the Middle Ages artists have explored their sense of self, their role in society and their own mortality. Self-portraits also highlight the artist’s practice and authorial status. As a genre in their own right, they address an enduringly central theme in art by raising questions about identity, revealing hopes and granting intimate insights into the contemplation of the self as an expression of essence or as a constructed conceit. Discover the rich resources in our Photo Archive

Das kühle Nass lockt uns während des Sommers an die unzähligen Gewässer in der Schweiz oder weiter weg ans Meer. Gerade in den heissen Monaten haben jedoch viele Länder mit Wasserknappheit zu kämpfen, was uns die Lebensnotwendigkeit dieses wertvollen Guts für Mensch und Natur immer wieder vergegenwärtigt. In der Kunst lässt sich eine vielseitige Auseinandersetzung mit dem Element Wasser beobachten: das Wasser als Naturphänomen, als erfrischendes Vergnügen, als Transport- und Handelsweg und nicht zuletzt als unentbehrlicher Stoff für die Existenz aller Lebenswesen. Eine Auswahl von Werken finden Sie in unserem Fotoarchiv.

Where would art be without colour? In Expressionism it is a powerful key to meaning, in Concrete Art it plays a significant role alongside form, and in monochromatic painting it enjoys autonomous status. Our Photo Archive has reproductions of works by artists who skilfully explore the many facets of colour and its interplay with shapes and materials. It is well worth delving deeper.

We expect it at this time every year: snow. Many look forward to its white splendour as it conjures up beautiful winter landscapes. Others worry when the snow falls, as this natural element conceals a tremendous destructive power. Artists depict snow in all its diversity – you might find some surprising motifs in our Photo Archive.

Our artists take a differentiated view of urban and rural life past and present. Browse through the abundant material in our Photo Archive for insights into such matters as the politics, jobs and entertainments that flavour the lives of people in town and country.

To mark the 50th anniversary of votes for women in Switzerland, the Photo Archive presents a selection of works reflecting the multi-faceted creativity of female Swiss artists.

Expressive interplay between light and shadow is an important device in fine art. We can see how artists have put this technique to good effect in, for example, a sea of lights in the city at night, in glittering reflections on a dress and in the intensity of a painted sunset. You will find a selection of works on this theme in our Photo Archive.

Artists have always had a sharp and empathetic eye for social, political and economic conditions. Images of poverty, misery and deprivation contrast with pictures of prosperity, power and abundance. You will find a selection of works on these themes in our Photo Archive.

This was Augusto Giacometti’s ode to colour in a diary entry during the 20th Venice Biennale (1936). Exploring colour was a constant thread, rich in variation, throughout his artistic career. The evolution of the autonomous avant-garde work owes much to this artist. SIK-ISEA is devoting a catalogue raisonné to his œuvre.

Many of us will probably spend our summer holidays this year in our own country. For inspiration about future excursions to the surrounding countryside it is worth delving into our lavishly stocked Photo Archive, which has a wide range of Swiss landscapes.

From Narcissus reflected in the water to self-portraits in the looking-glass – artists use mirrors in many different ways to express vanity, introspection, self-knowledge and beauty. Moments of deep intimacy grow from self-contemplation. You will find a selection of art works featuring looks in the mirror in our Photo Archive.

Eating is essential. Food keeps us busy every day. We might whip up a quick meal or slowly relish the cooking, serving up and enjoyment. Meals are a feast for the senses. Artists have celebrated this theme abundantly in many ways. You will find a selection of art works about food in our Photo Archive.

«All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.» (Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina, translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky, Penguin Classics 2004) With those opening words Leo Tolstoy established the central theme of his famous novel Anna Karenina – a theme which has also intrigued fine artists. You will find a selection of art works about families in our Photo Archive.

Home is a private haven, a place to ourselves, or to be with family and friends. A place to read, write, play and hear music, enjoy a game in good company, or simply look out of the window and dream. You will find a selection of art works on this theme in our Photo Archive.

Nature has begun to wake up: blossoming fruit trees, colourful flowerbeds, sunny blue skies. Spring in all its facets is celebrated in many works of art. You will find a selection of spring scenes in our Photo Archive.