Artwork
Fasnachtshelge "Leider wieder"
Fasnachtshelge "Leider wieder" is an unspecified painting by Max Rickenbacher-Hufschmid. It dates from 1957 and is held in the collection of the Archaeology and Museum Baselland. Fasnachtshelge “Leider wieder” is an image created around 1957 by Swiss artist Max Rickenbacher‑Hufschmid.
About this work
Overview
Fasnachtshelge “Leider wieder” is an image created around 1957 by Swiss artist Max Rickenbacher‑Hufschmid. The work is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. It presents a whimsical tableau in which a gray donkey and a black‑and‑white cat are depicted as if engaged in a commercial exchange, accompanied by bold German lettering.
Subject & Meaning
The central figures are a donkey, perched on its hind legs, and a cat holding a sign that reads “KLEIDER.” Above them the phrase “LEIDER WIEDER” and a reference to an officially approved animal‑sale notice appear. The composition playfully anthropomorphizes the animals, suggesting a satirical take on advertising and market culture.
Technique & Style
Rendered in a flat, graphic manner, the image relies on stark contrasts of gray, black, white and orange. The use of bold, blocky text integrated into the visual field reflects mid‑century commercial illustration techniques, while the simplified animal forms evoke folk‑art motifs common in Swiss carnival traditions.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1957, the piece entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings at an unspecified date. Its acquisition aligns with the museum’s interest in documenting popular visual culture and the intersection of ethnographic material with contemporary graphic art.
Context
The work references the Fasnacht, a pre‑Lenten carnival celebrated in parts of Switzerland, where humorous and satirical imagery is customary. By juxtaposing a donkey and a cat with commercial signage, Rickenbacher‑Hufschmid comments on the commodification of festive traditions during the post‑war period.
Artist & collection
Artist
Max Rickenbacher-Hufschmid spent years drawing the same carnival clowns in Basel’s back alleys.
