Louis Soutter

A recent addition to our gallery's collection is a remarkable drawing by Swiss artist Louis Soutter. The double-sided sheet vividly illustrates the artist’s distinctive working method.

Louis Soutter’s drawings often begin with fine linear textures that coalesce into figurative representations or scenes. His work reflects observations from everyday life, responding to his surroundings. Soutter frequently used simple materials such as pencil, ink, or India ink. A hallmark of his paper works is the use of both sides of the sheet, often accompanied by handwritten notes that serve as titles or explanatory comments.

Louis Soutter (1871–1942) is considered one of the most important Swiss artists of the 20th century. Born in Morges as the son of a pharmacist, he initially pursued careers in architecture and engineering before turning to the visual arts. Through his mother, he was related to the renowned architect Le Corbusier.

Soutter’s oeuvre reflects a unique development closely tied to his life’s journey. In 1923, due to physical and psychological illnesses, he was admitted to a care home in Ballaigues. It was there that the most art historically significant phase of his work emerged. When sclerosis impaired the mobility of his fingers and his vision was affected by an eye condition, he increasingly abandoned the pen in favor of painting directly with his fingers.

Soutter’s work has inspired numerous artists, including Arnulf Rainer, who owns works by him. His finger paintings and drawings captivate viewers with their radicality and expressiveness.

Today, Louis Soutter’s works are part of museum and private collections worldwide, including the Kunstmuseum Lausanne and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. Additional works can be found at the Aargauer Kunsthaus, the Open Art Museum in St. Gallen, the Zander Collection in Cologne, and the Kunstmuseum Basel.

(See also: Armin Zweite, Louis Soutter (1871–1942), 1985.)