Pastel on paper
48 x 61.5 cm
Signed on the verso
Louis Rheiner emerged as a significant figure in Geneva's artistic circles and was one of the earliest practitioners of Impressionism there. In the present work, there is something Post-Impressionistic in the emotive, swirling clouds and the vibrant purples and greens; it evokes Van Gogh’s depictions of the mountains around Arles.
Born in Switzerland in 1863 he studied at the School of Fine Arts in Geneva, followed by a stay in Paris where he discovered Impressionism, which enthused him greatly. He became known for his depictions of the landscapes of his homeland and most notably the Alps. For health reasons he wintered in the South of France and became renowned, too, for his shimmering Mediterranean seascapes. By the time of his death in 1924, Rheiner had established a lasting legacy in Geneva and his contributions to Swiss Impressionism are preserved in prestigious institutions, most notably the Museum of Art and History in Geneva.
