Adolf Wölfli [1864-1930] was an extraordinary artist from Switzerland, whose detailed drawings bear repeated examination. To learn that he spent most of his adult life in an insane asylum somehow doesn’t surprise me. He was abused by his parents and orphaned at ten years old. A series of foster homes followed before he worked as a farm labourer and had a stint in the army. He repeated the sins of his fathers by spending time in prison for child molestation. After a second conviction for the same offence, he was incarcerated in the Waldau Clinic, a psychiatric hospital in Bern, in 1885, and remained there until he died in 1930.
![Adolf Wölfli [1864-1930] - Wikipedia](https://firstnightdesign.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/adolf_woelfli.jpg?w=226&h=300)
Click here to find out more about Adolf Wölfli.
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First Night Design 
Yes, the complexity of his mind shows in his work. Thank you, Sarah for another interesting post.
Keep smiling and have a lovely Wednesday. Janet:)x
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Pleasure, Janet. You too!
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fab my friend! i am a great fan of adol wölfi .. happy to see his work here on your blog 🙂
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So glad to have hit the spot, Pat!
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extraordinary sums it up – i don’t know his work and am pleased to have been introduced to it, sarah.
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I discovered him by accident when searching for self-taught artists. His work was a revelation. Glad you enjoyed the post, Anne.
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Terrible story but incredible art
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Quite!
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Wolfli had some beautiful art! Thanks for sharing. Do you have a favorite artist besides Wolfli?
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Too many to mention!
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I love the lines and colours in this piece. Very sad to read about his life, though. Some people are really up against it in life.
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Those are exactly what drew me to his work. The story of his life is heartbreaking, I agree.
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