The Swiss National Library (NL) holds numerous works by artists who are collectively known today as “Schweizer Kleinmeister” – Swiss minor masters. The Rudolf and Annemarie Gugelmann Collection is of outstanding importance in this field. In addition, many works by the “Kleinmeister” can also be found in other graphic collections at the NL, such as the views of places and landscapes and the traditional costumes.
The rise of tourism in the 18th and 19th centuries led to a boom in landscape and genre painting. The country’s natural attractions were seen as especially picturesque, its landscapes exhilarating and rich in contrasts. Growing tourist demand for pictures led to the success of the Schweizer Kleinmeister. The NL’s collection offers an overview of their wide-ranging work and also documents each of Switzerland’s cantons.
In 1978, Rudolf and Annemarie Gugelmann donated their collection of “Schweizer Kleinmeister” to the National Library. Over four decades, the brother and sister not only acquired original works but also sought out immaculately preserved prints, high-quality series of plates, portfolios and albums containing original graphic works.
Content and scope
- Views of towns, villages and landscapes from every canton of Switzerland
- Depictions of local customs, costumes and festivals
- Several thousand prints, hundreds of watercolours, drawings and gouaches, albums, series of plates, portfolios, panoramas and a small number of oil paintings
Collection principles
- The collection reflects both documentary and artistic criteria.
- Progressive acquisitions since the start of the 20th century in the form of major collections and generous donations
- The most important donation is the R. and A. Gugelmann Collection.
- The collections are continually expanded.
Research and access
- A selection of works is available as high-resolution images on the website “kleinmeister.ch – Souvenirs suisses”, which is gradually expanding to include themed collections (“virtual showcases”). The site (in German, French, and Italian) also offers a description of the R. and A. Gugelmann Collection, an insight into the creative process, from the original drawing to the completed print, and an introduction to the various printing techniques.
- The works from the R. and A. Gugelmann Collection and further “Kleinmeister” holdings are described and catalogued in detail in the HelveticArchives database.
- The digitised images are available under a free licence on Wikimedia Commons and opendata.swiss.
- Further information on the “Kleinmeister” holdings are available on request.
- Non-digitised works can be consulted on site (by appointment).
Partners
Online portal for research and communication of the historical image of Switzerland based on images of Switzerland from the 18th to the early 20th century. A project of the Institute of Art History at the University of Zurich and the Swiss Art Research Infrastructure in collaboration with the Zentralbibliothek Zürich and the Swiss National Library.
Last modification 10.03.2025
Contact
Swiss National Library
Prints and Drawings Department
Hallwylstrasse 15
3003
Bern
Switzerland
Phone
+41 58 462 89 71