Albert Lindegger
Encyclopedia
Albert Lindegger or Lindi (14 September 1904 – 14 October 1991) was a Swiss
painter and illustrator, best known as a political satirist
.
Born in Berne
, he studied art in Paris
, at the Académie André Lhote
. In 1934 he adopted the artist name "Lindi", and exhibited in the Kunsthalle Bern
. By the 1930s he had established himself as a caricaturist
, and travelled widely through Europe
, visiting Spain
and Turkey
, as well as Madagascar
and countries in Northern Africa
. Through the years of the Second World War
, Lindegger continued to draw caricatures, often critical of the German Nazi regime
, but also illustrated books such as Émile Zola
's Nana
and Guy de Maupassant
's Bel Ami
and Une vie.
After the war he continued to contribute illustrations to magazines, and worked for the publications Die Weltwoche
in Basel
and National-Zeitung and Der Bund
in Berne. He was often employed to produce illustrations from international events such as the 1948 Winter Olympics
in St. Moritz
. Lindegger exhibited at various galleries and exhibitions over the years, such as the Kunstmuseum in Lucerne
, the Landweer Gallery in Amsterdam
, and in 1927 at the prestigious Paris Salon d'Automne
. He was also responsible for murals at the headquarters of the cantonal police
, and at the crematorium in Berne.
His drawings are characteristically black-and-white
line-drawings
, often with humorous, anthropomorphic
motifs. Though best known for his illustrations, Lindegger also produced sculptures, and erotic drawings of high artistic value, frequently as illustrations to self-written books. In addition to this he was also a filmmaker, and had to his credit the movies Flug in den Hoggar (1948) and Madagaskar (1951).
Lindegger married Marianne Murkowsky in 1960. Together they had the sons Marc Albert in 1962, and Renè in 1965, who died in an accident in 1984. Albert Lindegger died at the hospital San Giovanni in Bellinzona
in 1991.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
painter and illustrator, best known as a political satirist
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
.
Born in Berne
Berne
The city of Bern or Berne is the Bundesstadt of Switzerland, and, with a population of , the fourth most populous city in Switzerland. The Bern agglomeration, which includes 43 municipalities, has a population of 349,000. The metropolitan area had a population of 660,000 in 2000...
, he studied art in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, at the Académie André Lhote
André Lhote
André Lhote was a French sculptor and painter of figure subjects, portraits, landscapes and still life. He was also very active and influential as a teacher and writer on art....
. In 1934 he adopted the artist name "Lindi", and exhibited in the Kunsthalle Bern
Kunsthalle Bern
The Kunsthalle Bern is a Kunsthalle on the Helvetiaplatz in Berne, Switzerland.It was built in 1917–1918 by the Kunsthalle Bern Association and opened on October 5, 1918. Since then, it has been the site of numerous expositions of contemporary art...
. By the 1930s he had established himself as a caricaturist
Caricature
A caricature is a portrait that exaggerates or distorts the essence of a person or thing to create an easily identifiable visual likeness. In literature, a caricature is a description of a person using exaggeration of some characteristics and oversimplification of others.Caricatures can be...
, and travelled widely through Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, visiting Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, as well as Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
and countries in Northern Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
. Through the years of the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Lindegger continued to draw caricatures, often critical of the German Nazi regime
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
, but also illustrated books such as Émile Zola
Émile Zola
Émile François Zola was a French writer, the most important exemplar of the literary school of naturalism and an important contributor to the development of theatrical naturalism...
's Nana
Nana (novel)
Nana is a novel by the French naturalist author Émile Zola. Completed in 1880, Nana is the ninth installment in the 20-volume Les Rougon-Macquart series, the object of which was to tell "The Natural and Social History of a Family under the Second Empire", the subtitle of the series.-Origins:A year...
and Guy de Maupassant
Guy de Maupassant
Henri René Albert Guy de Maupassant was a popular 19th-century French writer, considered one of the fathers of the modern short story and one of the form's finest exponents....
's Bel Ami
Bel Ami
Bel Ami is French author Guy de Maupassant's second novel, published in 1885. An English translation titled Bel ami, or, The history of a scoundrel: a novel appeared in 1903....
and Une vie.
After the war he continued to contribute illustrations to magazines, and worked for the publications Die Weltwoche
Die Weltwoche
Die Weltwoche is a Swiss weekly magazine based in Zürich. It is privately owned by Roger Köppel. The magazine's regular columnists of note include the former president of the Social Democratic Party of Switzerland, Peter Bodenmann, as well as Christoph Mörgeli MP, a leading figure of the right...
in Basel
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
and National-Zeitung and Der Bund
Der Bund
Der Bund is a daily German-language newspaper published in Bern, Switzerland. Established in 1850 and associated with the cause of liberalism, it was among the leading quality newspapers in Switzerland for much of the 19th and 20th centuries. In economic distress since the 1980s, its circulation...
in Berne. He was often employed to produce illustrations from international events such as the 1948 Winter Olympics
1948 Winter Olympics
The 1948 Winter Olympics, officially known as the V Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated in 1948 in St. Moritz, Switzerland. The Games were the first to be celebrated after World War II; it had been twelve years since the last Winter Games in 1936...
in St. Moritz
St. Moritz
St. Moritz is a resort town in the Engadine valley in Switzerland. It is a municipality in the district of Maloja in the Swiss canton of Graubünden...
. Lindegger exhibited at various galleries and exhibitions over the years, such as the Kunstmuseum in Lucerne
Lucerne
Lucerne is a city in north-central Switzerland, in the German-speaking portion of that country. Lucerne is the capital of the Canton of Lucerne and the capital of the district of the same name. With a population of about 76,200 people, Lucerne is the most populous city in Central Switzerland, and...
, the Landweer Gallery in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, and in 1927 at the prestigious Paris Salon d'Automne
Salon d'Automne
In 1903, the first Salon d'Automne was organized by Georges Rouault, André Derain, Henri Matisse, Angele Delasalle and Albert Marquet as a reaction to the conservative policies of the official Paris Salon...
. He was also responsible for murals at the headquarters of the cantonal police
Law enforcement in Switzerland
Law enforcement in Switzerland is mainly a responsibility of the 26 cantons of Switzerland, who each operate cantonal police agencies. Some cities also operate municipal police agencies as provided for by cantonal law. The federal government provides specialised services and is responsible for the...
, and at the crematorium in Berne.
His drawings are characteristically black-and-white
Black-and-white
Black-and-white, often abbreviated B/W or B&W, is a term referring to a number of monochrome forms in visual arts.Black-and-white as a description is also something of a misnomer, for in addition to black and white, most of these media included varying shades of gray...
line-drawings
Line art
Line art is any image that consists of distinct straight and curved lines placed against a background, without gradations in shade or hue to represent two-dimensional or three-dimensional objects...
, often with humorous, anthropomorphic
Anthropomorphism
Anthropomorphism is any attribution of human characteristics to animals, non-living things, phenomena, material states, objects or abstract concepts, such as organizations, governments, spirits or deities. The term was coined in the mid 1700s...
motifs. Though best known for his illustrations, Lindegger also produced sculptures, and erotic drawings of high artistic value, frequently as illustrations to self-written books. In addition to this he was also a filmmaker, and had to his credit the movies Flug in den Hoggar (1948) and Madagaskar (1951).
Lindegger married Marianne Murkowsky in 1960. Together they had the sons Marc Albert in 1962, and Renè in 1965, who died in an accident in 1984. Albert Lindegger died at the hospital San Giovanni in Bellinzona
Bellinzona
Bellinzona is the administrative capital of the canton Ticino in Switzerland. The city is famous for its three castles that have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2000....
in 1991.
Further reading
- The graphic arts journal Graphis Inc. had articles on Lindegger in vols. 17 (1947) and 72 (1957).