Accompanying the exhibition of the same name, this publication delves into the work of Irène Zurkinden, who spent more than half a century exploring her present through paintings, drawings, and sketches that are both intimate and powerfully expressive. True to the grace and beauty that define Zurkinden's work, the exhibition and publication highlight the visual allure of her art while also drawing attention to the critical issues she engaged with throughout her oeuvre. The focus of the catalogue is the first publication and presentation of some of Zurkinden's sketchbooks. The book also provides a special insight into her creative process and reveals her frank and unfiltered view of society, her bold and intense view of the world around her.

Swiss painter Irène Zurkinden (1909-1987) trained as a fashion illustrator in Basel before turning to the visual arts. A leading figure of the city's cultural scene, she spent her life between Basel and Paris—her place of longing. Throughout her career, she exhibited widely in Basel galleries and Swiss institutions, with her paintings and sketchbooks bearing witness to a unique view of society and her personal surroundings.