Anker Et L'enfance

Exhibition at the Fondation Gianadda, Martigny, 1 February - 30 June 2024

Swiss artist Albert Anker (1831-1910) was one of the first painters to become aware of children's psychological behaviour and to depict it in his paintings. Of the 800 canvases he painted between 1848 and 1902, more than 500 depict children: individual portraits, children at play, studying alone or with others, in the company of their grandparents...

This exhibition catalogue offers a comprehensive overview of Anker's childhood theme, revealing the artist as a leading ambassador for children's portraits. It brings together works from the major Swiss public and private collections, as well as from the Musée archéologique de Laon and the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Lille, including works on paper, which served as preparatory studies for future paintings.