MUNICH.- The Kunstmuseum Bern (Museum of Fine Arts) is Switzerland’s oldest art museum with a permanent collection. This autumn, over 150 masterpieces from this institution are on show at the Kunsthalle der Hypo-Kulturstiftung (Hypo Cultural Foundation) in Munich. The selected paintings, drawings and sculptures were created by more than 60 Swiss artists. Thus, these works not only represent the Kunstmuseum’s collection but also reflect the development of art in our neighbouring country. In looking back over seven centuries, is it possible to detect a specific quality that is unique to Switzerland? Can certain themes or artistic expressions be detected within this countries art production? How can one define a national, a Swiss art? Can this be found in works by artists who, although they were born in Swiss cantons, spent their lives elsewhere, achieving glory from beyond the borders of their home country? In the same way