Artist Database

Ernst Samuel Geiger was a Swiss painter and woodcut artist who attended the Alte Kantonsschule Aarau from 1892 to 1896, where he was a classmate of Albert Einstein. After initially studying medicine, forestry, and botany, he earned his doctorate from the University of Zurich in 1900 and taught at various schools in Switzerland and abroad. Settling in Bern in 1908, Geiger initially focused on creating woodcut bookplates, but his artistic passion was revitalised after receiving a federal art grant.

Geiger went on to produce seascapes that established his reputation as a fine artist. In 1918, he purchased the 'Hof' in Ligerz, drawing deep inspiration from the surrounding region; his depictions of Lake Biel remain are especially popular. Characterised by thick, defined brushwork, a rhythmic energy, Geiger's paintings elevate ordinary scenes of Swiss life.