Hermann Scherer. Grooves and Edges.   

Since moving to Switzerland, I have enjoyed exploring museums here and discovering new artists. One of my favourite art movements is Expressionism and I have loved getting to know the Swiss expressionists, whether through special exhibitions or in permanent collections, I have started to build up an interest and knowledge in them. It is also not as common to find information about them in English, which on the one hand, is good for me as it encourages me to practice German, but on the other hand, it means that this fascinating group of artists are not so well known outside the German-speaking world. I plan to share my knowledge and passion for these artists through a series of blog posts and through my Instagram feed.

First up is Hermann Scherer (1893-1927) who was born in Germany but lived most of his life in Basel. He trained as a stonemason before becoming interested in working with wood.

I first came across Scherer in the Expressionismus Schweiz exhibition at the Kunstmuseum in Winterthur. This year I have also seen his works at MASI Lugano and Bünderkunstmuseum in Chur. There is something about his bold style that draws me in. The vibrant colours of his paintings, but more so the wood sculptures. I was excited to learn that there would be an exhibition focusing on his sculptures and woodblock prints at the Kunstmuseum in Basel.

The exhibition is not large but it is very comprehensive in showing his woodcuts and wooden sculptures. He only started to use wood in his art in 1924 and by the end of September 1926 he had made over 25 figures and created over a hundred woodcuts.

He creates portraits of friends and depicts landscapes and his works often deal with the conflicts of human existence such as loneliness, angst and excess.

Seeing the original woodcut alongside the final print was fascinating. I was also pleased to see woodcut prints of paintings that I had previously seen in full colour. There are chances to see some of his colourful works alongside the woodcuts in the exhibition.

One of the key figures in the expressionist movement in Switzerland was Ernst Ludwig Kirchner (more on him in a future blog). He was a key influence on Scherer. In 1923 Scherer helps him to mount an exhibition at Kunsthalle in Basel. As a thank you he invites Scherer to visit him in Davos and it is there he starts to carve wooden figures and create printing blocks. Some of his works are displayed side by side with Kirchners.

It was Kirchner that introduced Scherer to using wood from Swiss pine trees. He discovered this whilst living in Davos and spending time with the farmers there. The wood is relatively knot free and therefore easy to carve. A large number of Scherer’s sculptures and all the surviving woodblocks were made of Swiss pine.

Images: Hermann Scherer, Mother and Child, 1924, Sammlung Kunstkredit Basel-Stadt. Man and Woman, 1924, Bünderkunstmuseum Chur. The Sleepers, 1924, Museum Ludwig Köln.

Scherer was an avid reader and this acts as inspiration for several series of woodcuts. He creates 3 portfolios all based on literature.

• Raskolnifoff (1924/25) based on Dostoyoevsky’s Crime and Punishment
• The Hymn of Baal the Great (1925) based on Baal by bertolt Brecht
• The Twelve (1925/26) inspired by the expressionist poem The Twelve by Alexander Block

They are graphic novel like in their appearance. The scenes change quickly, often abruptly which show the influence that expressionist silent film had on him and the aesthetic of shock.

The exhibition runs until 18 April 2022 at Kunstmuseum Basel. I visited with my Swiss Museums Pass which provides entry to hundreds of museums all over Switzerland.

There is also a beautifully designed catalogue to accompany the exhibition.