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Artists from A-Z Max Kämpf

1912–1982
  • Studie Hölle (1973)
    Studie Hölle
    Artist: Max Kämpf Dating: 1973 Type: Work on paper Material: Pencil on paper Measures: 27,7 x 19 cm Acces / purchase date: 1979 Inventory number: 0219.2 Copyright: © Nachlass Max Kämpf; Fotos: Christian Baur, Basel
  • Bube mit Ballon (1941/1942)
    Bube mit Ballon
    Artist: Max Kämpf Dating: 1941/1942 Type: Painting Material: Oil on canvas Measures: 209,5 x 74,3 cm Acces / purchase date: 1964 Inventory number: 0205 Copyright: © Nachlass Max Kämpf; Fotos: Christian Baur, Basel
  • Junger Mann (1962)
    Junger Mann
    Artist: Max Kämpf Dating: 1962 Type: Painting Material: Oil on canvas Measures: 100 x 70,5 cm Acces / purchase date: 1962 Inventory number: 0214 Copyright: © Nachlass Max Kämpf; Fotos: Christian Baur, Basel
  • Kleine Geistermusik (1954/1955)
    Kleine Geistermusik
    Artist: Max Kämpf Dating: 1954/1955 Type: Painting Material: Oil on canvas Measures: 50 x 146 cm Acces / purchase date: 1955 Inventory number: 0210 Copyright: © Nachlass Max Kämpf; Fotos: Christian Baur, Basel
  • Maske (1959)
    Maske
    Artist: Max Kämpf Dating: 1959 Type: Painting Material: Oil on canvas Measures: 151 x 90 cm Acces / purchase date: 1963 Inventory number: 0212 Copyright: © Nachlass Max Kämpf; Fotos: Christian Baur, Basel
  • Traumflug (Detail) (1941)
    Traumflug (Detail)
    Artist: Max Kämpf Dating: 1941 Type: Painting Material: Oil on canvas Measures: 121,5 x 127,5 cm Acces / purchase date: 1964 Inventory number: 0204 Copyright: © Nachlass Max Kämpf; Fotos: Christian Baur, Basel
  • Geisterzug (1952/1953)
    Geisterzug
    Artist: Max Kämpf Dating: 1952/1953 Type: Painting Material: Oil on canvas Measures: 130 x 305 cm Acces / purchase date: 1958 Inventory number: 0209 Copyright: © Nachlass Max Kämpf; Fotos: Christian Baur, Basel
  • Selbstporträt (1962)
    Selbstporträt
    Artist: Max Kämpf Dating: 1962 Type: Painting Material: Oil on canvas Measures: 42 x 42,5 cm Acces / purchase date: 1962 Inventory number: 0215 Copyright: © Nachlass Max Kämpf; Fotos: Christian Baur, Basel
  • Vier Buben (1945)
    Vier Buben
    Artist: Max Kämpf Dating: 1945 Type: Painting Material: Oil on canvas Measures: 71,5 x 153,5 cm Acces / purchase date: 1955 Inventory number: 0207 Copyright: © Nachlass Max Kämpf; Fotos: Christian Baur, Basel
  • Indianer (Navaho / USA) [Native American (Navaho / USA)] (1976)
    Indianer (Navaho / USA) [Native American (Navaho / USA)]
    Artist: Max Kämpf Dating: 1976 Type: Painting Material: Dispersion on cardboard Measures: 43,8 x 35 cm Acces / purchase date: 1979 Inventory number: 0220 Copyright: © Nachlass Max Kämpf; Fotos: Christian Baur, Basel
Kämpf's interest in the 1930s was in the dark-toned painting of the older Basel generation. His oil paintings from that time show affinities with works by Coghuf and the grey painter Walter Schneider. The themes are borne by compassion for the underprivileged and the question of elementary human situations. On a stylistic level, the idea of a timeless symbol is matched by a generous, colourfully restrained style of painting that conveys a certain monumentality. In the late 1930s and 1940s, he created his own groups of works with self-portraits, pictures of boys and girls appearing individually and in groups, as well as families and groups of people, masquerades, landscapes and architecture. In the 1970s, depictions of Indians were added. Images of flying people and biblical figures as well as some landscapes have allegorical content. In contrast to the winter landscape with dead rider and horse (War, 1944-1945, Basler Versicherungs-Gesellschaft), the summer landscape of 1946 becomes a symbol of peace with richly differentiated colours.

Kämpf's satirical streak is evidenced by the miniature depictions of hell and paradise he created after the end of the war. He painted these and other panel paintings in fresco technique; after 1960, roof tiles were often used as picture supports. The fresco brings earthy tones to the work; at the same time, it is reminiscent of the few opportunities Kämpf was given to realise murals. In the late work of the last two decades, drawings outnumbered paintings.

Leza Dosch: "Max Kämpf". In: SIKART Lexikon zur Kunst in der Schweiz, 2018 (first published in 1998).