Artwork
Hasenböhler, Niklaus - Malerei, Metzger Hans
Hasenböhler, Niklaus - Malerei, Metzger Hans is an unspecified painting by Niklaus Hasenböhler. It dates from 1982 and is held in the collection of the Archaeology and Museum Baselland. Niklaus Hasböhler’s 1982 oil painting, titled “Metzger Hans,” portrays a solitary figure seated against an almost black backdrop.
About this work
Overview
Niklaus Hasböhler’s 1982 oil painting, titled “Metzger Hans,” portrays a solitary figure seated against an almost black backdrop. The composition is dominated by a stark contrast of light and darkness, with the sitter’s face emerging from deep shadow into a faintly illuminated cheek and eyes. The work resides in the collection of the Museum of Ethnography.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts a man, presumably a butcher named Hans, whose serious expression and restrained posture suggest a contemplative moment. The limited illumination accentuates his facial features, lending an air of mystery that invites viewers to consider the inner life of an everyday laborer rendered with quiet dignity.
Technique & Style
Hasböhler employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, allowing a narrow band of light to carve out the sitter’s cheek and eyes while the remainder of the face recedes into shadow. Thick, uneven brushstrokes in purplish tones define the collar and cuffs, creating texture and emphasizing the tactile quality of the paint.
History & Provenance
Created in 1982, the painting entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings, where it has been displayed as part of the institution’s focus on cultural and occupational portraiture. The inscription of the sitter’s name in the upper corner confirms the work’s identification and aids its cataloguing within the museum’s archives.
Context
During the early 1980s, Hasböhler explored the intersection of traditional genre painting and contemporary portraiture, often highlighting working‑class subjects. “Metzger Hans” reflects this interest, situating a commonplace figure within a dramatic visual language that echoes earlier Baroque techniques while addressing modern concerns about identity and labor.
Artist & collection
Artist
A Swiss painter active in the early 1700s, Niklaus Hasenböhler specialized in small oil portraits that blend figure and city view.
