RG-2026-006
Faulenbachfall in the Erstfeld Valley – Original woodcut by X. J. A. Closs, engraved by Meyer.
ca. 1870–1890 (spätes 19. Jh.)
About the Work
This original hand print captures the Faulenbachfall in the Erstfeld Valley at a time when the Gotthard region became a coveted destination for European Romanticism and early Alpine tourism—just a few years prior to the construction of the Gotthard railway tunnel (1882), which would make this landscape world-famous. The collaboration between the artist X. J. A. Closs and the engraver Meyer exemplifies the high quality of illustrated Swiss publishing works from the founding era. The back label 'Original Handdruck' certifies its authenticity as a genuine print from the 19th century. Invest in a piece of art that not only embodies historical significance but also exemplifies the beauty and allure of the Swiss landscape during a transformative era.
Collector Interest
For international buyers – especially from Germany, the USA, and Japan – this work brings together everything that fascinates about Switzerland: dramatic waterfalls, glaciers, goats, and the mystical Gotthard massif in masterful black-and-white print graphics. The Gotthard region, as the heart of Europe, attracts collectors of Alpine motifs from around the world; the confirmed original hand-printed status and the ready-to-display gold frame make it an instantly hangable collector's item.
Provenance
The collector from Zug documented this work under the title 'Faulenbachfall in Erstfelder Thal' – precisely the inscription that the print itself bears. The Erstfelder Valley in the canton of Uri lies at the entrance to the Gotthard route and was a must-have motif for Alpine painters and travel writers in the 19th century. The label on the back reading 'Original Handdruck' confirms what the paper and print quality already reveal: it is not a later reprint, but an authentic testimony from the heyday of Swiss printmaking, professionally framed and ready for display.
Inscriptions
FAULENBACHFALL IM ERSTFELDER THAL | X. J. A. Closs [zeichner, links unten im Bild] | Meyer sc. [stecher, rechts unten im Bild] | Original Handdruck [Etikett rückseitig]