When Fools are Led by Fools – Fritz Urban Welti 1962
Tibetan saying or parable about the consequences when fools follow a foolish leader.
Wenn die Narren einen narrischen Fuehrer haben, so gehen sie Alle dem Untergang entgegen, wie jene Affen die den Mond aus einem Brunnen ziehen wollten.
“When fools follow a foolish leader, then they all fall together, like monkeys who want to pull the moon out of a pond”
Dimensions: Sheet approx 14.5 x 19 cm (full sheet)
Woodblock / Woodcut print on Japan Paper
This woodcut is one of a series commissioned as “New Year’s Prints” (Neujahrsblatter) by the Welti family transport business, Welti-Furrer, of which Fritz Urban’s grandfather was a founder.
From a limited edition of 20. We have several sheets from this edition and the number within the edition may be different from the number shown. Created for New Year 1962.
Zurich 1901 - Zollikon 1974
Fritz Urban Welti was a painter and a master of the woodcut print. He was born in Zurich in 1901 and died in Zollikon near Zurich in 1974. He studied in Cologne, Vienna and Paris and was well known for his book illustrations. He was the nephew of the famous Swiss symbolist artist Albert Welti.
The Woodcuts on this page were executed as commissions for the Welti family transport business, Welti-Furrer, of which Fritz Urban's grandfather was a founder.
There is a very old tradition in Switzerland that companies and societies give a print ((Neujahrsblatt) to their clients and associates at New Years. Welti created these "New Years Print " engravings for the company beginning in the early 1930s. In some years a second card was also created that could be used as a birthday card for clients.
We are pleased to be able to offer signed limited editions, handprinted by the artist, of some of the woodblock prints below.
