Johann Ludwig Aberli was born on November 14, 1723, in Winterthur, Switzerland. He began training as a decorative painter in Bern, studying under the renowned painter Johann Grimm, who sparked his interest in landscape painting. With great diligence and the support of art-loving patrons, Aberli quickly advanced and soon devoted himself entirely to landscape painting.
Aberli became particularly known for his finely executed watercolors and etchings of Swiss landscapes, created with great understanding of nature and artistic sensitivity. One of his unique techniques was the so-called "Aberli technique" – a printing method where the outlines of the landscapes were etched and then colored in watercolor. This technique allowed for cost-effective reproduction of his works and made him a pioneer of tourism graphics in Switzerland.
In his Bern studio, Aberli trained numerous students, including the prominent painter Adrian Zingg. He traveled extensively in the Alps to create on-site sketches that were later developed into atmospheric landscape paintings. His works were well-received not only in Switzerland but also in Germany and France.
Johann Ludwig Aberli passed away on October 17, 1786, in Bern. He is regarded as one of the most important Swiss landscape painters of the 18th century and a pioneer of landscape-related printmaking. His work shaped the image of the Swiss Alps in the collective European consciousness of that era.
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