Jura: facets of a mountain range

As early as the end of the 18th century, the Jura mountains, on the border between France and Switzerland, became a popular tourist destination. The paintings of Caspar Wolf, a pioneer of high mountain painting, contributed to this. As a reaction to the rationalist Enlightenment and the strict rules of Classicism, the untouched landscape became a central motif of pre-romanticism. A certain longing for the landscape persisted in the paintings of subsequent generations of artists, in which the industrialization of the region and the development of the railroad were barely depicted. Only contemporary perspectives are dedicated to urbanization and the changed living environments in the Jura. The Solothurn Art Museum shows how the mountains have been depicted artistically from the 18th century to the present day. In more recent works, such as the video performances by Anne and Jean Rochat developed especially for the show, the focus is on the changed view of nature compared to earlier centuries. The exhibition runs from January 19 to May 4.

The comprehensive presentation includes works of art by Caroline Bachmann, Marie José Burki, Elizabeth Campbell, Edouard Castres, Eugène Cattin, Jeanne Chevalier, Le Corbusier, Gustave Courbet, Ferdinand Hodler, Monique Jacot, Charles L'Eplattenier, Meret Oppenheim, Auguste Pointelin, Edouard Quiquerez, Augustin Rebetez, Anne and Jean Rochat and Caspar Wolf. For the first time, the Kunstmuseum Solothurn is collaborating with the Solothurn Film Festival, which is showing a special program of international and national historical and contemporary films about the Jura as a film location. The film festival will take place from January 22 to 29.