Fondation William Cuendet & Atelier de Saint-Prex

 

 

It is an art, learned little by little, to know how to look at a beautiful engraved sheet under all favorable lighting, in order to extract its meaning and moving secrets.

William Cuendet, 1947

 

The William Cuendet & Atelier de Saint-Prex Foundation was established in 1977, on the one hand by the heirs of the late William Cuendet (1886–1958), pastor and print collector, and on the other hand by the members of the Atelier de Saint-Prex, artists practicing engraving. It thus brings together an exceptional collection of sheets covering the history of the medium, as well as testimony to part of the engraved production from the canton of Vaud through prints made in Saint-Prex (Chavaz, Lecoultre, Palézieux, Sarto, Tal Coat). It was officially deposited in 1989 at the Cantonal Cabinet of Prints of the Musée Jenisch Vevey.

 

It is an art, learned little by little, to know how to look at a beautiful engraved sheet under all favorable lighting, in order to extract its meaning and moving secrets. One quickly recognizes a true connoisseur of prints by revealing signs: furtive, wholly personal gestures to feel the texture of a paper with a noble watermark that supports a high-quality ink; a certain flash of the eye that caresses the intact surface of a rare work; apparent gestures of indifference while the heart is stirred; and sometimes, the ostentatious delight of a total surrender to enthusiasm in the face of the splendor of a perfect impression. William Cuendet, 1947

 

The many connections that the William Cuendet & Atelier de Saint-Prex Foundation was able to weave between artists, writers, and collectors have considerably expanded the original holdings. With the mission of making its collections known to the widest possible audience, the Foundation conducts ambitious exhibition projects. Today, the collection comprises over 12,000 works, illustrating this commitment to printmaking. 

 

President: Pierre Vogt

Curator: Florian Rodari

Deputy Curator: Catherine McCready

Assistant Curator: Julie Eggel

Research Associate: Louis Deltour