Rob S. Gessner – Original Aquatint Engraving
Original Limited Edition Aquatint
Signed Rob S. Gessner
Dedicated “Fuer Hernn Bischel mit besten Dank.”
In this original aquatint engraving, Rob S. Gessner distills everyday forms into a striking composition of geometric abstraction. Executed with precision and subtle tonal variation, the work reflects Gessner’s deep engagement with Cubism and early mid-century modern design. The interplay of shapes and layered planes, with hints of vessels and architectural motifs, evokes the lyrical influence of Paul Klee, blending structure with a quiet, poetic rhythm
Dimensions: 25 x 35 cm (full sheet)
16 X 23 cm (platemark)
(Zurich 1908 – 1982 Locarno
Also known as: Robert Salomon Gessner
Rob S. Gessner was an important figure in Swiss graphic and fine arts during the mid-20th century, deeply influenced by Cubism and the broader currents of European modernism. His work reflects a balance of structure and rhythm, reimagining traditional subjects through abstraction and design.
Born into a distinguished Zurich family, Gessner was a direct descendant of the renowned poet and painter Salomon Gessner (1730–1788). From 1925 to 1927, he trained as a window decorator at the Jelmoli department store before enrolling at Zurich’s School of Applied Arts, where he studied under notable artists Karl Hügin, Otto Meyer-Amden, and Ernst Gubler.
During the 1940s, Gessner gained increasing recognition as an advertising illustrator, while continuing to pursue his personal artistic practice through paintings, engravings, and collages. His work was shaped by the influence of leading modernists such as Sophie Taeuber-Arp, Wassily Kandinsky, and Paul Klee, contributing to a uniquely Swiss vision of modern art.
