Louis Rheiner
Born in 1863.
Died in 1924.
Between Geneva, Paris and the Mediterranean, Louis Rheiner (1863–1924) belonged to a generation for whom the discovery of Impressionism renewed the approach to landscape. Born in Geneva and trained at its school of fine arts, he subsequently spent time in Paris, where this painting aroused his enthusiasm. The Bibliothèque de Genève places him among the artists who contributed to disseminating Impressionism in his native city.
His work includes landscapes, but also portraits and still lifes. This diversity suggests that his vision should not be confined to panoramas alone. The collections of the Musée d’art et d’histoire de Genève preserve several points of reference, notably *Paysage du Midi* and *Le Bassin du Luxembourg*.
Bringing these titles together reveals two settings within his artistic universe: southern France and the Parisian garden, a designed space at the heart of the city.
Dated works offer another measure of his career. *Pêchers en fleurs*, an oil on panel from 1893, places the season at the forefront of the subject. Two pastels on paper from 1902, *Cannes* and *Oliviers en Provence*, testify to his interest in the Midi and to his practice of pastel alongside oil.
The juxtaposition of these techniques provides a concrete way of observing differences of surface, line and colour construction in his work.
His itinerary thus connects Geneva’s artistic culture with the French experiences of his time. To discover his paintings, one may follow this passage between places and supports: a garden, an orchard or a Mediterranean landscape each becomes an opportunity to observe how colour organises vision.
