Happy Fishermen and Fools – Woodblock Print by Fritz Urban Welti
“Der Fischer” – The Fisherman – Original woodblock print by the Swiss artist Fritz Urban Welti – illustration of a quotation from the baroque era poet and epigramist Friedrich von Logau:
Ein Reis vom Narrenbaum tragt jeder an sich bei. Der eine deckt es zu, der andere tragt es frei.
“We all bear a sprig from the tree of fools – some hide it, others wear it openly.”
Dimensions: Sheet approx 13 x 21 cm
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 1956.
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.
