Hans Enri
Autograph Letter with Original Sketch by Hans Erni - 1949
1949

About the Item

Autograph Letter Signed with Original Sketch by Hans Erni to Nesto Jacometti. March 5th, 1949. Signed "ton Erni". One page, one-sided. On ivory colored tissue paper. In French. In very good conditions, except for an horizontal tape connecting two parts of the sheet. Perfectly readabe, although the nervous calligraphy. An original red ink sketch representing a male profile playing a trumpet. "Avec ta nouvelle proposition je te dessinerais une ou deux lithos pour ta belle entreprise". The Swiss artist, Jans Erni, writes this letter of intent to his collector and publisher of Graphic art, Nesto Jacometti. The latter one, together with Pierre Cailler, were beginning a new collaboration, an ambitious printing guild, theGuilde Internationale de la Gravure, an edition of etchings and lithographs destined for a wide circulation, published in the same year of this autograph, in 1949. Hans Erni (Lucerna, 1909 – 2015) The Swiss graphic designer, painter, illustrator, engraver and sculptor, Hans Erni is still today best-know with the name of "the Swiss Picasso" and for having illustrated postage stamps, his lithographs for the Swiss Red Cross. During his long career, he realized about 300 posters and several murals — including for the 1980 Salon international de l'automobile, Red Cross, IOC, United Nations and ICAO. He illustrated about 200 books and created 90 postage stamps and 25 medals. In 1939 he realized his first major public success artwork : a mural titled "Vacation Land of the People" ,commissioned and displayed for the national exhibition in Zürich. The Hans Erni Museum, situated in the grounds of the Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne, contains a large collection of artworks, ceramics and theatre costumes and sets. . In 2004, he was awarded the honorary citizenship of the city of Lucerne. On 10 January 2009 he received the Swiss Award for lifetime accomplishment. Nesto Jacometti (Locarno, 1898- 1973) Nesto Jacometti is still today a fascinating figure of the Locano and International cultural scene of the last century. Collector and editor of graphic art, he was the promoter of two important editorial projects and adventures: the Guilde Internationale de la Gravure and L’Oeuvre Gravée Born in Locarno at the end of the 19th century, at the age of 30 he left Ticino to move to Paris and immerse himself in the bohemian atmosphere of Montparnasse. The war forces him to return to Switzerland, to Geneva, where he works in the journalistic field and he knows figures as Albert Skira and Pierre Cailler. With the latter one a collaboration born and resulted, in 1949, in a printing guild: an edition of etchings and lithographs destined for a wide circulation of the Paris School. During all his life, Jacometti collaborates and involves artists such as Rufino Tamayo and Jean Lurçat, Antoni Clavé, Zao Wou-Ki, Alfred Manessier, Gustave Singier and Zoran Music. He was awarded at the Venice Biennale in 1953, with the Critics' Grand Prix. In 1955 Jacometti engaged in the new publishing initiative, L'Oeuvre Gravée, calling new prestigious names on the Parisian art scene. Many artists owe their initiation to the art of engraving to him: Marino Marini, Massimo Campigli, Zao Wou-Ki, Johnny Friedlaender, Corneille, Max Ernst and Alberto Magnelli.

Creator:

Hans Enri

Creation Year:

1949

Dimensions:

Height: 11.42 in (29 cm)Width: 7.88 in (20 cm)Depth: 0.04 in (1 mm)

Medium:

Paper,Ink

Movement & Style:

Modern

Period:

1940-1949