Franz Gertsch, who was born in 1930, is considered one of the most important contemporary Swiss artists and, along with Chuck Close, the most significant of the Photo- or Hyperrealists. In celebration of his seventy,fifth birthday, this monograph-the most comprehensive to date-features a collection of Gertsch's most important large-format paintings, monumental woodcuts, and a broad selection of gouaches and watercolors from the late sixties to the present.A catalogue raisonne of the paintings is included in the volume.

Franz Gertsch, who was born in 1930, is considered one of the most important contemporary Swiss artists and, along with Chuck Close, the most significant of the Photo- or Hyperrealists. Since his breakthrough at Harald Szeemann's legendary documenta 5 in 1972, Gertsch has been established on an international level. As recipient of the Goslar Kaiserring, participant in three Biennales in Venice. and with solo shows at renowned institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York; Gertsch has received some of the highest awards the art world has to offer. One Particular highlight of his career was the 2002 opening of a museum:named after him in Burgdorf near Bern, Switzerland. The museum is dedicated to his oeuvre-a rare honor for any iving artist-and features a Wide var ety of his works.

In celebration of his seventy,fifth birthday, this monograph-the most comprehensive to date-features a collection of Gertsch's most important large-format paintings, monumental woodcuts, and a broad selection of gouaches and watercolors from the late sixties to the present.A catalogue raisonne of the paintings is included in the volume.

Foreword and Acknowledgments

From the Instant to the Endless Extension of Time

Developmental Directions in the Work of Franz Gertsch

Reinhard Spieler

Bohemian Rhapsody

Joachim Jager

Painting after Photography

Peter J. Schneemann

Gertsch before Gertsch or: The Long Way to Monte Lema

The Early Work to 1969-An Overview

Samuel Vitali

Catalogue

I  Early Works 1951-69

II New Departures, New Beginnings 1969170 Reinhard Spieler

III The Large Paintings 1971172 Ulrich Looek

IV Group Portraits from the Early Seventies Ulrich Looek

V From Ambience to Individual: The Patti Smith Cycle

and the Self-Portrait from 1980 Matthias Frehner

VI Portraits of Women Norberto Gramaccini

VII A New Image of Nature Harold Kunde

Biography

Compiled by Norberto Gramaccini

Catalogue Raisonne of the Paintings 1969-2005

Reinhard Spieler

People Portrayed in the Paintings and Woodcuts of Franz Gertsch

Elke Kania

List of Exhibitions

Bibliography

Authors' Biographies