Paul Nizon (born 19 December 1929 in
Bern
german: Berner(in)french: Bernois(e) it, bernese
, neighboring_municipalities = Bremgarten bei Bern, Frauenkappelen, Ittigen, Kirchlindach, Köniz, Mühleberg, Muri bei Bern, Neuenegg, Ostermundigen, Wohlen bei Bern, Zollikofen
, website ...
) is a Swiss
art historian
Art history is the study of aesthetic objects and visual expression in historical and stylistic context. Traditionally, the discipline of art history emphasized painting, drawing, sculpture, architecture, ceramics and decorative arts; yet today ...
and writer.
Biography
The son of a Russian chemist and a
Swiss
Swiss may refer to:
* the adjectival form of Switzerland
* Swiss people
Places
* Swiss, Missouri
* Swiss, North Carolina
*Swiss, West Virginia
* Swiss, Wisconsin
Other uses
*Swiss-system tournament, in various games and sports
*Swiss Internation ...
mother,
after leaving school he studied history of art, classical archaeology and German language and literature in the universities of
Berne
german: Berner(in)french: Bernois(e) it, bernese
, neighboring_municipalities = Bremgarten bei Bern, Frauenkappelen, Ittigen, Kirchlindach, Köniz, Mühleberg, Muri bei Bern, Neuenegg, Ostermundigen, Wohlen bei Bern, Zollikofen
, website ...
and
Munich
Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the States of Germany, German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the List of cities in Germany by popu ...
. He obtained his doctorate in 1957 with a thesis on
Vincent van Gogh
Vincent Willem van Gogh (; 30 March 185329 July 1890) was a Dutch Post-Impressionism, Post-Impressionist painter who posthumously became one of the most famous and influential figures in Western art history. In a decade, he created about 2 ...
. He worked as an assistant at the Historisches Museum in Berne until 1959. In 1960, he was awarded a scholarship at the
Swiss Institute
Swiss Institute / Contemporary Art New York (SI) is an independent non-profit contemporary art organization founded in 1986. SI is located at 38 St Marks Pl, the corner of Second Avenue and St Marks Place in the East Village neighborhood of Manhatt ...
in Rome. In 1961, he was a leading art critic of the
Neue Zürcher Zeitung
The ''Neue Zürcher Zeitung'' (''NZZ''; "New Journal of Zürich") is a Swiss, German-language daily newspaper, published by NZZ Mediengruppe in Zürich. The paper was founded in 1780. It was described as having a reputation as a high-quality ne ...
.
Since 1962 Nizon, who has lived in Paris since 1977,
has been a freelance writer. He has held various guest lectureships, including in 1984 in the
University of Frankfurt am Main
Goethe University (german: link=no, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main) is a university located in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. It was founded in 1914 as a citizens' university, which means it was founded and funded by the wealt ...
and 1987 in
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis (WashU or WUSTL) is a private research university with its main campus in St. Louis County, and Clayton, Missouri. Founded in 1853, the university is named after George Washington. Washington University is r ...
. Nizon's estate is archived in the
Swiss Literary Archives
The Swiss Literary Archives (SLA - ''Schweizerische Literaturarchiv'') in Bern collects literary estates in all four national languages of Switzerland (German, French, Italian and Romansh language). It is part of the Swiss National Library ...
in
Bern
german: Berner(in)french: Bernois(e) it, bernese
, neighboring_municipalities = Bremgarten bei Bern, Frauenkappelen, Ittigen, Kirchlindach, Köniz, Mühleberg, Muri bei Bern, Neuenegg, Ostermundigen, Wohlen bei Bern, Zollikofen
, website ...
.
Awards
Source:
* Gert-Jonke-Preis 2017
* Schweizer Grand Prix Literatur 2014
* Literaturpreis des Kantons Bern 2012
*
Austrian State Prize for European Literature The Austrian State Prize for European Literature (german: Österreichischer Staatspreis für Europäische Literatur), also known in Austria as the European Literary Award (''Europäischer Literaturpreis''), is an Austria
Austria, , bar, Ö ...
2010
*
Kranichsteiner Literaturpreis
Kranichsteiner Literaturpreis is a literary prize of Germany. The Deutsche Literaturfonds (German Literature Fund) based in Darmstadt has been awarding the prize since 1983. The prize money was raised in 2019 from €20,000 to €30,000. In addi ...
2007
* Buchpreis des Kantons Bern 2006
* Buchpreis der Stadt Bern für Das Fell der Forelle 2005
*
Erich Fried Prize The Erich Fried Prize (german: Erich-Fried-Preis) is a literary prize in honour of the Austrian poet Erich Fried, and is awarded annually by the for Literature and Language, based in Vienna. The value of the prize, endowed by the office of the Chan ...
, Vienna 1996
* Großer Literaturpreis des Kantons Bern 1994
* Literaturpreis der Stadt Bern 1994
*
Stadtschreiber von Bergen
The Stadtschreiber von Bergen ('City clerk of Bergen') is an annual German literary award. The prize money is €20,000 with one year of free living in the town clerk's house in Bergen-Enkheim, Frankfurt, "An der Oberpforte 4". It was the first St ...
1993
* Literaturpreis der Stadt Zürich 1992
*
Marie-Luise-Kaschnitz-Preis 1990
* Torcello-Preis der Peter Suhrkamp Stiftung 1989
* France Culture Channel Award for Foreign Literature 1988
* Chevalier
Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
The ''Ordre des Arts et des Lettres'' (Order of Arts and Letters) is an order of France established on 2 May 1957 by the Minister of Culture. Its supplementary status to the was confirmed by President Charles de Gaulle in 1963. Its purpose is ...
1988
* Literaturpreis der Stadt Bern 1984
* Deutscher Kritikerpreis für Literatur 1982
* Preis der Schweizerischen Schillerstiftung 1982
* Literaturpreis der Freien Hansestadt Bremen 1975
*
Conrad Ferdinand Meyer Preis
The Conrad-Ferdinand-Meyer-Preis is a literary award in memory of Conrad Ferdinand Meyer.
The prize is given annually to up to three recipients by the ''Conrad Ferdinand Meyer-Stiftung'' in Zurich.
Laureates
*1938 Max Frisch
*1939 Franz Fisc ...
1972
See also
*
Jean-Louis de Rambures
Jean-Louis Vicomte de Bretizel Rambures (; 19 May 1930 – 20 May 2006) was a French journalist, author, translator of literature, literary critic, and cultural attaché. He introduced contemporary German literature to a broader French audience by ...
, whose translations introduced Nizon to a French readership
References
Further reading
*
External links
Literary estate of Paul Nizonin the archive database HelveticArchives of the
Swiss National Library
The Swiss National Library (german: Schweizerische Nationalbibliothek, french: Bibliothèque nationale suisse, it, Biblioteca nazionale svizzera, rm, Biblioteca naziunala svizra) is the national library of Switzerland. Part of the Federal Office ...
Publications by and about Paul Nizonin the catalogue Helveticat of the Swiss National Library
Interview with P. Nizon (in German)
Swiss art historians
Swiss writers
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich alumni
Swiss people of Russian descent
Writers from Bern
1929 births
Living people
Washington University in St. Louis faculty
Goethe University Frankfurt faculty
University of Bern alumni
{{Switzerland-writer-stub