René Gilsi (*1905; † 2002) was a Swiss caricaturist, illustrator and painter from St. Gallen. He first became known for his caricatures published in the satirical magazine Nebelspalter. Only at around the age of 60 did he begin to focus seriously on painting.
His paintings centre on people, landscapes and traditional motifs such as the «Appenzeller/Urnäscher Chläuse». Painting was an essential part of his artistic expression and complemented his drawing in a distinct and independent way. His characteristic style of drawing and painting is regarded as a significant contribution to Swiss art.
Despite periods spent in Vienna, Paris and Zurich, Rene Gilsi remained closely connected to St. Gallen throughout his life and was an integral part of the city’s cultural landscape. His work is represented in museum collections and has been shown in several exhibitions.
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