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Adolf Wölfli
Adolf Wölfli

Adolf Wölfli

Swiss, 1864 – 1930
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Adolf Wölfli was a Swiss artist who was one of the first artists to be associated with the Art Brut or outsider art label.
Wölfli was born in Bern. He was abused both physically and sexually as a child, and was orphaned at the age of 10. He thereafter grew up in a series of state-run foster homes. He worked as a Verdingbub (indentured child labourer) and briefly joined the army. He often attempted to perform sexual acts on young girls – often getting away unpunished.

Eventually, he was caught in the act and institutionalized for his doings. After being freed, he was re-arrested for a similar offense and in 1895 was admitted to the Waldau Clinic, a psychiatric hospital in Bern where he spent the rest of his adult life. He was very disturbed and sometimes violent on admission, leading to him being kept in isolation for his early time at hospital. He suffered from psychosis, which led to intense hallucinations.

Walter Morgenthaler, a doctor at the Waldau Clinic, took a particular interest in Wölfli's art and his condition, later publishing Ein Geisteskranker als Künstler (A Psychiatric Patient as Artist) in 1921 which first brought Wölfli to the attention of the art world.

The images Wölfli produced were complex, intricate and intense. They worked to the very edges of the page with detailed borders. In a manifestation of Wölfli's "horror vacui", every empty space was filled with two small holes. Wölfli called the shapes around these holes his "birds".

His images also incorporated an idiosyncratic musical notation. This notation seemed to start as a purely decorative affair but later developed into real composition which Wölfli would play on a paper trumpet.

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Skt. Adolf=Thron,=Alpa=Roosali

Skt. Adolf=Thron,=Alpa=Roosali (1917)

Adolf Wölfli (Swiss, 1864 – 1930)
Abstract
Musikant

Musikant (1913)

Adolf Wölfli (Swiss, 1864 – 1930)
Abstract
Netz=Schlange, vom Wili=Wald,=Skt. Adolf=Thurm,=Hoof=Ring,=Uhrwald, in Amerika

Netz=Schlange, vom Wili=Wald,=Skt. Adolf=Thurm,=Hoof=Ring,=Uhrwald, in Amerika (1921)

Adolf Wölfli (Swiss, 1864 – 1930)
Abstract
Noga=Ei; Ist Das allergrößte Dorf der gantzen Erde; Villerville

Noga=Ei; Ist Das allergrößte Dorf der gantzen Erde; Villerville (1921)

Adolf Wölfli (Swiss, 1864 – 1930)
Abstract
Riesen=Schlange, Sorrantta, drei Eewigkeits=Ängel und der große Skt. Adolf=Stärn in der alten, Schöpfung

Riesen=Schlange, Sorrantta, drei Eewigkeits=Ängel und der große Skt. Adolf=Stärn in der alten, Schöpfung (1921)

Adolf Wölfli (Swiss, 1864 – 1930)
Abstract
Riesen=Stadt, Waaben=Hall

Riesen=Stadt, Waaben=Hall (1917)

Adolf Wölfli (Swiss, 1864 – 1930)
Abstract
Roosali von Indien; Roosali von Rußland; Roosali von China; Und Roosali von Jappan im Skt. Adolf=Roosa=Gaarta

Roosali von Indien; Roosali von Rußland; Roosali von China; Und Roosali von Jappan im Skt. Adolf=Roosa=Gaarta (1922)

Adolf Wölfli (Swiss, 1864 – 1930)
Abstract
Rosalinda=Lina Solo=Sängara

Rosalinda=Lina Solo=Sängara (1905)

Adolf Wölfli (Swiss, 1864 – 1930)
Abstract
Skt. Adolf,=Ringen=Hall

Skt. Adolf,=Ringen=Hall (1922)

Adolf Wölfli (Swiss, 1864 – 1930)
Abstract
Skt. Adolf=Ballohn=Schiff; Riesen=Stadt

Skt. Adolf=Ballohn=Schiff; Riesen=Stadt (1921)

Adolf Wölfli (Swiss, 1864 – 1930)
Abstract
Skt. Adolf=Raad=Hall bei Bern

Skt. Adolf=Raad=Hall bei Bern (1920)

Adolf Wölfli (Swiss, 1864 – 1930)
Abstract
Skt. Adolf=Riesen=Eßkurial, Reykiawik, bei Marbach,=Wiggen; Kt. Luzern

Skt. Adolf=Riesen=Eßkurial, Reykiawik, bei Marbach,=Wiggen; Kt. Luzern (1916)

Adolf Wölfli (Swiss, 1864 – 1930)
Abstract
Skt. Adolf=Roosali

Skt. Adolf=Roosali (1917)

Adolf Wölfli (Swiss, 1864 – 1930)
Abstract
Leantika,=Riesen=Grand=Hottell, in Lion=See; Indien

Leantika,=Riesen=Grand=Hottell, in Lion=See; Indien (1922)

Adolf Wölfli (Swiss, 1864 – 1930)
Abstract
Skt. Adolfina vom Chamäleohn=Thal in China; Aasien

Skt. Adolfina vom Chamäleohn=Thal in China; Aasien (1919)

Adolf Wölfli (Swiss, 1864 – 1930)
Abstract
Skt. Adolfina, Mariili, und Wiegalinda Giselar

Skt. Adolfina, Mariili, und Wiegalinda Giselar (1920)

Adolf Wölfli (Swiss, 1864 – 1930)
Abstract
St. Vinzentz=Münster, in Bern

St. Vinzentz=Münster, in Bern (1916)

Adolf Wölfli (Swiss, 1864 – 1930)
Abstract
Stadt Bern, No. 4

Stadt Bern, No. 4 (1916)

Adolf Wölfli (Swiss, 1864 – 1930)
Abstract
Tannen=Wald=Hall, Riesen=Stadt am Häxen=See

Tannen=Wald=Hall, Riesen=Stadt am Häxen=See (1919)

Adolf Wölfli (Swiss, 1864 – 1930)
Abstract
Tiger=Zohrn=Riesen=Gletscher,=Hochalp=Stok, in Nordwest=Indien

Tiger=Zohrn=Riesen=Gletscher,=Hochalp=Stok, in Nordwest=Indien (1917)

Adolf Wölfli (Swiss, 1864 – 1930)
Abstract
Uhaja von Indien, meine liebe Tauf=Paatinn

Uhaja von Indien, meine liebe Tauf=Paatinn (1922)

Adolf Wölfli (Swiss, 1864 – 1930)
Abstract
Vogeesen=Thal, Elsaß, Lothringen und Rhein=Pfaltz

Vogeesen=Thal, Elsaß, Lothringen und Rhein=Pfaltz (1916)

Adolf Wölfli (Swiss, 1864 – 1930)
Abstract
Wand=Uhr=Schlange

Wand=Uhr=Schlange (1921-22)

Adolf Wölfli (Swiss, 1864 – 1930)
Abstract
West=Frontt des Zehntheiligen Skt. Adolf=Kathedral=Schiffes in, Skt. Adolf=Heim

West=Frontt des Zehntheiligen Skt. Adolf=Kathedral=Schiffes in, Skt. Adolf=Heim (1916)

Adolf Wölfli (Swiss, 1864 – 1930)
Abstract
DER GROSSE SKT. ADOLF-STARN (THE GREAT ST. ADOLF-STAR)

DER GROSSE SKT. ADOLF-STARN (THE GREAT ST. ADOLF-STAR) (1923)

Adolf Wölfli (Swiss, 1864 – 1930)
Abstract
Die furchtbare Riesen=Brunst Deer Riesen=Stadt, Mutter=Kohrn,=Ost=Wand=Hall

Die furchtbare Riesen=Brunst Deer Riesen=Stadt, Mutter=Kohrn,=Ost=Wand=Hall (1922)

Adolf Wölfli (Swiss, 1864 – 1930)
Abstract
Chrooslen=Ring=Koralle, Mäßer=Roosen=Kreutz und Gloken=Kreuz. Ottilia=Wald=Skt. Adolf=Ring; Riisen=Stadt

Chrooslen=Ring=Koralle, Mäßer=Roosen=Kreutz und Gloken=Kreuz. Ottilia=Wald=Skt. Adolf=Ring; Riisen=Stadt (1921)

Adolf Wölfli (Swiss, 1864 – 1930)
Abstract
Das Skt. Adolf=Diamantt=Riesen=Hohrn, am Flohzohrn, in Indien und, der Hahr=Kamm

Das Skt. Adolf=Diamantt=Riesen=Hohrn, am Flohzohrn, in Indien und, der Hahr=Kamm (1917)

Adolf Wölfli (Swiss, 1864 – 1930)
Abstract
Denkmal und Waappen des Riesen=Stadt=Theils, Täller=Ring, in der Riesen=Stadt, Granada

Denkmal und Waappen des Riesen=Stadt=Theils, Täller=Ring, in der Riesen=Stadt, Granada (1928)

Adolf Wölfli (Swiss, 1864 – 1930)
Abstract
Der Bandaisan, Vulkahn und Riesen=Gletscher in Japan

Der Bandaisan, Vulkahn und Riesen=Gletscher in Japan (1920)

Adolf Wölfli (Swiss, 1864 – 1930)
Abstract
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