Curtis_O_Baer_2010

3. Karl Geiser Swiss, 1898 – 1957

Head of a Boy

Pen and ink on paper 3 3 ⁄ 4 x 3 1 ⁄ 4 Stamped lower right: KG

inches ( 9 . 5 x 8 . 3 cm)

provenance Collection Curtis O. Baer

Born in Berne in 1898 , Geiser was best known as a figurative sculptor. His typical subject matter was children, executed with a combination of classical and realistic elements, and often expressing a working class outlook on everyday life. Geiser received numerous commissions for public sculptures, but during the end of his life depression often made finishing works difficult. He died in his studio in 1957 , an apparent suicide. In 1926 , Geiser was supported by a grant from George Reinhard, the well known Swiss patron of the arts. That same year he won a competition for a sculpture commis sion for the new Berner School He created two groups of figures, one of boys and the other of girls, which were finally dedicated in 1938 . The group of girls was also shown at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1937 .

Geiser also did drawings, prints and photographs. An exhibition of his photography begun in the late 1920 s was held in 2008–09 at the Museum der Moderne, Salzburg.