Travel with a Joyful Heart – 1967 Woodblock by Fritz Urban Welti
A woman flies above a landscape on the back of a heron, stork or other long necked bird carrying a heart with a bell.
Below the image, a quotation from German writer Hermann Löns reads:
“The most important piece of baggage you can take with you on a journey is, and remains, a joyful heart.”
“Das wichtigste Stück des Reisegepäcks ist und bleibt ein fröhliches Herz.”
Dimensions: Sheet approx 14.5 x 19.5 cm (full sheet)
Woodblock / Woodcut print on very fine Japan Paper
This woodcut is one of a series commissioned by the Welti family transport business, Welti-Furrer, of which Fritz Urban’s grandfather was a founder.
From a limited edition of 20 designed in 1966 as New Year’s Cards for fortunate clients of the Welti-Furrer company. We have several sheets from this edition and the number within the edition may be different from the number shown.
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.
