Ernst Georg Rüegg

Ernst Georg Rüegg (* August 21, 1883 in Milan; † April 20, 1948 in Männedorf) was a Swiss painter, draughtsman, graphic artist, illustrator, art educator, and lyricist.

He was the son of silk industrialist Emil Rüegg and Karoline, née Unterlaus. After completing a commercial apprenticeship, he attended the Zurich School of Applied Arts from 1901 to 1902. In 1903, he received his first copy assignments in Milan and Florence. From 1904 to 1905, he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Dresden under Eugen Bracht and Richard Müller, who greatly influenced him. In 1906, he returned to Zurich and continued his education at the “Stadler School,” founded by Luise Stadler, under Hermann Gattiker, Hans Sturzenegger, and Ernst Würtenberger.

Rüegg married Maria Wäckerlin in 1907 († 1938). In 1909, he published the poetry collection Landschaft (Landscape). He was a member of the Zurich section of the Society of Swiss Painters and Sculptors (GSAMBA) and served on the collection committee of the Zurich Art Society from 1909. In 1938, he was appointed to its board. His patrons included Richard Kisling, Hermann Reiff, and Gustav Hennenberg. From 1916, he also maintained contact with Richard Bühler, Hedy Hahnloser, and the Reinhart brothers, Hans and Werner.

Rüegg taught at the “Stadler School” from 1909 to 1913 – the former studio of Böcklin – and from 1916 to 1948 at the Zurich School of Applied Arts. From 1945, he also taught at the Zurich Adult Education Center alongside Paul Bodmer and Karl Otto Hügin.

In 1942, four years after the death of his first wife, Rüegg married the physician Irène Marton. He spent his last years in Meilen and Hinwil with her.

Rüegg became known in the 1930s for his landscapes and wall paintings. He is regarded as a boundary crosser between the real and the surreal. His works were exhibited in retrospectives in 1949, 1950, and 1984.