Hans Peter Klauser (1910 – 1989) Die Andere Schweiz Einführende Worte von Christian Mühlethaler, Botschafter der Schweiz in Ungarn und Peter Pfrunder, Direktor Fotostiftung Schweiz Kurator: Károly Kincses, Konservator für Fotografie Die Ausstellung ist geöffnet: 10. Dezember 2009. - 24. Januar 2010. Jeweils Wochentags zw. 14 und 19 Uhr Übers Wochenende zw. 11 und 19 Uhr The Other Switzerland Opening remarks by: His Excellency Christian Mühlethaler, Ambassador of Switzerland to Hungary and Peter Pfrunder, Director of Fotostiftung Schweiz Curator: Károly Kincses, photo museologist Open to the public: 10. December 2009 - 24. January 2010. Every weekdays: 14.00 – 19.00 Weekend: 11.00 – 19.00
Die Andere Schweiz | Hans Peter Klauser (1910 – 1989) - [deutsch] The Other Switzerland | Hans Peter Klauser (1910 – 1989) - [in english]

Hans Peter Klauser

Hans Peter Klauser (1910–1989) belongs to that generation of Swiss photgraphers who, in the 1930’s, recognised the opportunities offered by the ever-increasing demand for documentary photography. Educated by Gotthard Schuh (1936–1938), he achieved – in the wake of the pioneers of photographic journalism (Staub, Senn, Schuh, Kübler) – a valuable contribution to the documentation of everday life in Switzerland. Despite failing to achieve the ultimate breakthrough as "master photographer", in retrospect especially his early work possesses qualities which have earned him a definitive position in the history of Swiss photography. Besides the high standard of technical handwork, his sense for densely atmospherical scenes and poetic imagery stands out, as well as his particular ethnological interest. He patiently researched seemingly unspectacular but very real environments aside from the daily journalistic actualities; for example in the countryside of Appenzell – his publication in 1943 appearing in the series "Volkserbe der Schweiz", („National Heritage of Switzerland“) attests to this – or of workers in the Swiss machine industry. Klauser’s work also includes remarkable coverage of Switzerland during the Second World War. These important documentations should be regarded in their contemporary historical context in order to judge the self-portrayal and awareness of Switzerland during those difficult years.

Peter Pfrunder

Hans Peter Klauser
1910-1989

1910 Born 31 July in Herisau, Switzerland.
1930-31 Engineering studies at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zürich.
1931-32 Illness followed by semi-paralysis, interruption of studies.
1933-35 Continuation of studies at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zürich. Repeated visits to Paris. Abandons studies due to illness, freelance photography.
1936-38 Apprenticeship as photographer with Gotthard Schuh, Zollikon.
1938-42 Reports for Zürcher Illustrierte, Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Die TAT, Schweizer Spiegel, Sie und Er.
1941 Urs Graf-Verlag, Basel commissions photographic assignment in Valais for Volume II of series „Volkserbe der Schweiz” („National Heritage of Switzerland”).
1942 Marriage with Margret Barth, two daughters and two sons follow.
1942-47 Reports on refugees and internees, portraits of adults and children.
1943-44 Field work in canton Appenzell on assignment for Urs Graf-Verlag, Basel, for volume „Appenzellerland” of series „Volkserbe der Schweiz” („National Heritage of Switzerland”) - (photography and text by Hans Peter Klauser).
1945 Assignment for report with topic „An occupied German village”. Arrested by French military in Southern Germany.
1947-57 Company photographer for the machine tool factory Oerlikon Bührle. Development of the „Orthoklin” process for production of large-scale photographic enlargements with highly accurate tonal values. Presentation of process at Graphis 57 in Lausanne.
1957-59 Large-scale enlargements for advertising purposes, practical uses of the „Orthoklin” process. Portraits, commissions for Pro Infirmis and Pro Senectute.
1989 Dies 13 January in Zürich.