Hans Josephsohn

The work ofthe Swiss artist Hans Josephsohn (1920-2012), one of the

greatmasters of sculpture of the second half of the 20th century

Born in1920 in Eastern Prussia from Jewish parents, Hans Josephsohn left Germany

in 1937 andsettled in Florence with the aim of studying art. Forced to leave due

to fascistracial laws, he moved to Switzerland, which became his adoptive country.

Josephsohn’soeuvre has been defined as “existential sculpture”: in a time that was

stronglycharacterised by the physical and moral devastation left by World War II,

HansJosephsohn developed a language capable to talk about the fragile relationship

of mankindwith the surrounding world. He was concerned with representing the

human beingas a figure in space throughout his life. His sculptures are characterised

by anambivalence of the almost abstract figure whose individuality is secured by its

form,material and surface.

The book ispublished on the occasion of the biggest Josephsohn exhibition at the

Musée d’ArtModerne in Paris, curated by the german painter Albert Oehlen. It aims

to show whyJosephsohn, though being little known during his lifetime, is recognized

as “themost important sculptor since Giacometti” (Jackie Wullschlager).

The bookincludes a foreword by Fabrice Hergott, director of Musée d’Art Moderne;

anintroduction by the exhibition curator, the artist Albert Oehlen; abiographical

essay byJackie Wullschlager, chief-critic of the Financial Times and author of thecelebrated

biographyMonet. The restless vision; an essay by Max Dax on archetype and

an essay onJosephson’s spiritual dimension and archaic qualities by British sculptor

ThomasHouseago; a photo essay on the Josephsohn-Estate in St. Gallen by leading

internationalphotographer François Halard; a wide-ranging oral history compiled out

of eightnew interviews with Josephsohn’s closest allies and family, including both his

wifes, thehead of his foundry Felix Lehner as well as the Swiss architect Peter Märkli,

whodesigned La Congiunta museum for Josephsohn’s works in Ticino; an essay by

Frenchphilosopher Danièle Cohn about memory, trauma and space in Josephsohn’s

work;Josephsohn in his own words and biographical details. The book is designed

by theacclaimed art director Mike Meiré and Christopher Tröster.