Der Puschlaver See

Executed in oil paint, the piece benefits from the medium’s capacity for layered, luminous color. Hess employs a varied palette to render atmospheric effects, from the muted tones of the clouds to the richer hues of the water and distant peaks, achieving a textured surface that conveys depth.

Since its completion, the painting has remained in Switzerland, eventually entering the holdings of the Kunsthaus Zürich. Its presence in the museum’s collection reflects the institution’s focus on 18th‑century Swiss art and the preservation of regional landscape traditions.

Hess worked during a period when Swiss artists increasingly turned to native scenery as a source of national identity. The work aligns with contemporary interest in depicting Alpine vistas, contributing to a broader European fascination with the sublime qualities of mountainous terrain.