Artwork
Fasnachtshelge "Buredemo 1962"
Fasnachtshelge "Buredemo 1962" is an unspecified painting by Max Rickenbacher-Hufschmid. It dates from 1962 and is held in the collection of the Archaeology and Museum Baselland. Fasnachtshelge “Buredemo 1962” is an image created in 1962 by Swiss artist Max Rickenbacher‑Hufschmid.
About this work
Overview
Fasnachtshelge “Buredemo 1962” is an image created in 1962 by Swiss artist Max Rickenbacher‑Hufschmid. The work is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography, where it is displayed as an example of mid‑century graphic humor. Its title references the traditional Fasnacht carnival, suggesting a festive, satirical context.
Subject & Meaning
The surrounding text, rendered in German, mixes jokes and dialogue, creating a lively, comic‑book atmosphere that lampoons carnival revelry.
The composition presents three caricatured figures rendered in exaggerated cartoon style. A bearded man wearing a shirt marked with a four‑leaf clover stands beside a woman reclining on a stool, smoking and holding a drink. A second woman’s face is partially concealed by an oversized purple wig. The surrounding text, rendered in German, mixes jokes and dialogue, creating a lively, comic‑book atmosphere that lampoons carnival revelry.
Technique & Style
Rickenbacher‑Hufschmid employs thick, flat areas of bold colour bounded by strong black outlines, a visual language reminiscent of mid‑century illustration and poster art. The flatness of the forms and the simplified anatomy emphasize the humorous, exaggerated nature of the scene, while the vivid background colours enhance the festive mood. The integration of text and image reflects a graphic design approach common in carnival ephemera.
History & Provenance
The piece was produced in 1962, a period when Rickenbacher‑Hufschmid was active in Swiss visual culture, often contributing to carnival publications. It entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings through acquisition (or donation) shortly after its creation, becoming part of the institution’s collection of ethnographic and folkloric visual material.
Artist & collection
Artist
Max Rickenbacher-Hufschmid spent years drawing the same carnival clowns in Basel’s back alleys.
