# Beginning of Time

> facade painting in secco technique from 1930 on the west facade of the Zytglogge in the city of Bern, Switzerland

**Wikidata**: [Q63616414](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q63616414)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/beginning-of-time

## Summary

**Beginning of Time** (German: *Beginn der Zeit*) is a facade painting executed in the secco technique in 1930, located on the west facade of the Zytglogge medieval clock tower in Bern, Switzerland. The monumental mural, created by artist Victor Surbek, measures 650 centimeters in width and 980 centimeters in height, depicting a clock face as part of an allegorical scene that symbolizes the passage of time. This work represents a significant example of 20th-century architectural painting integrated into one of Bern's most iconic historical landmarks.

## Key Facts

- **Official Name**: Beginning of Time (*Beginn der Zeit*)
- **Year of Creation**: 1930
- **Artist**: Victor Surbek
- **Technique**: Fresco-secco (dry fresco with silicate mineral paint / Keimfarben)
- **Location**: West facade of the Zytglogge tower, facing Marktgasse, Bern, Switzerland
- **Exact Address**: Bim Zytglogge 3, 3011 Bern
- **Coordinates**: Latitude 46.94796, Longitude 7.44772
- **Dimensions**: 650 cm (width) × 980 cm (height)
- **Classification**: Clock face, mural
- **Part of**: Zytglogge complex, Public art works in Bern
- **Material**: Silicate mineral paint (Keimfarben)
- **Commons Category**: Fassadenmalerei Beginn der Zeit (Victor Surbek 1930)
- **OpenStreetMap Relation ID**: 9572365
- **Wikidata Description**: Facade painting in secco technique from 1930 on the west facade of the Zytglogge in the city of Bern, Switzerland

## FAQs

### Q: What is the Beginning of Time painting?

A: The Beginning of Time is a large facade mural painted in 1930 on the west exterior of the Zytglogge clock tower in Bern, Switzerland. Created by Victor Surbek using the secco technique with silicate mineral paints, the painting measures approximately 6.5 meters wide and 9.8 meters tall, featuring an allegorical depiction of time with a clock face as its central element.

### Q: Where exactly is the Beginning of Time located?

A: The painting is situated on the west facade of the Zytglogge tower, facing toward Marktgasse. The exact address is Bim Zytglogge 3, 3011 Bern, Switzerland. The Zytglogge is one of Bern's most famous medieval landmarks, located in the city's Inner City district.

### Q: Who created the Beginning of Time mural?

A: The mural was created by Swiss artist Victor Surbek in 1930. The work was executed using the fresco-secco technique, applying silicate mineral paints (known as Keimfarben) directly onto the exterior wall of the Zytglogge tower.

### Q: What does the Beginning of Time depict?

A: The painting features a clock face as part of a larger allegorical scene representing the concept of time's beginning. As a facade painting on a historic clock tower, the work thematically connects to the Zytglogge's function as a timekeeping landmark, which has served Bern for centuries with its astronomical clock and mechanical performances.

### Q: What is the Zytglogge?

A: The Zytglogge is a medieval clock tower in Bern, Switzerland, dating back to the 13th century. It is renowned for its astronomical clock, which performs a daily show featuring automated figures including jokers, a bear, and a golden rooster. The tower serves as a major tourist attraction and cultural symbol of the city.

### Q: What is the secco technique?

A: Secco (or fresco-secco) is a painting technique where pigments are applied to dry plaster rather than wet plaster, as in true fresco. The Beginning of Time specifically used silicate mineral paints (Keimfarben), which bond chemically with the substrate and provide durability for exterior applications.

## Why It Matters

The Beginning of Time holds significance as a remarkable intersection of art, architecture, and horological heritage in Switzerland. This mural represents a deliberate artistic dialogue between the visual arts and timekeeping—a theme perfectly suited to its location on one of Europe's most famous clock towers. The painting transforms an ordinary architectural surface into a contemplative space that invites viewers to reflect on the nature of time itself, reinforcing the Zytglogge's identity as a temporal landmark that has marked the hours for Bern's citizens for over six centuries.

The work also exemplifies early 20th-century Swiss mural tradition, combining classical allegorical themes with modern mineral paint technology. The choice of silicate-based Keimfarben demonstrates an understanding of material science appropriate for exterior Swiss conditions, ensuring the painting's survival through nearly a century of Alpine weather. The painting's monumental scale—nearly 10 meters tall—makes it one of the most significant facade artworks in Bern's Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Furthermore, the Beginning of Time contributes to the rich tradition of clock face iconography in art, joining notable works like the Eise Eisinga Planetarium's ceiling and various astronomical clock representations across European culture. It represents how timekeeping infrastructure has served not merely functional purposes but has been elevated through artistic interpretation to embody deeper philosophical and cultural meanings.

## Notable For

- **Monumental Dimensions**: One of the largest facade paintings in Bern's Old Town, measuring 9.8 meters in height
- **Thematic Integration**: Uniquely combines clock face imagery with the function of the Zytglogge as a timekeeping landmark
- **Historical Significance**: Created in 1930, representing early 20th-century Swiss mural art
- **Material Innovation**: Uses durable silicate mineral paints (Keimfarben) appropriate for exterior Swiss conditions
- **Cultural Landmark Location**: Situated on one of Switzerland's most photographed and visited medieval towers
- **Allegorical Depth**: Depicts philosophical concepts about time through visual allegory rather than literal representation

## Body

### Historical Context

The Zytglogge (German for "time bell" or "clock bell") has been a central timekeeping institution in Bern since its construction in the 13th century. The tower's astronomical clock, installed in 1530, became one of the city's most recognizable symbols, drawing visitors to witness its daily mechanical performance. By the early 20th century, the tower had accumulated centuries of cultural significance, making it a natural site for artistic enhancement.

Victor Surbek's 1930 mural was created during a period when European artists were exploring ways to integrate contemporary art into historic urban landscapes. The choice of the clock face as a central motif reflected both the tower's function and a broader artistic interest in time as a philosophical subject. The painting was executed using the fresco-secco technique, applying silicate mineral paints to the dried exterior plaster—a method chosen for its durability in Bern's variable climate.

### Location and Architecture

The Zytglogge stands in the heart of Bern's Altstadt (Old Town), a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its well-preserved medieval architecture. The tower rises at the intersection of several important streets, with the Beginning of Time specifically positioned on the western facade facing Marktgasse. This placement ensures the painting is visible to pedestrians approaching the tower from the market street.

The exact coordinates (46.94796°N, 7.44772°E) place the artwork in Bern's Innere Stadt (Inner City), the historic core of the medieval city. The address at Bim Zytglogge 3 corresponds to the base of the tower, where the mural occupies a substantial portion of the exterior wall surface. The painting's dimensions—650 centimeters wide by 980 centimeters tall—make it a dominant feature of the tower's western elevation.

### Artistic Execution

Victor Surbek employed the fresco-secco technique, which differs from true fresco in that pigments are applied to dry rather than wet plaster. This method allows for greater precision in detail but generally offers less durability than true fresco. To compensate, Surbek used Keimfarben (silicate mineral paints), a formulation developed in the 19th century that chemically bonds with mineral substrates, creating a durable surface resistant to weathering.

The painting's subject matter centers on an allegorical representation of time, with the clock face serving as both a visual anchor and a thematic link to the tower's timekeeping function. The inclusion of a clock face connects this mural to a long tradition of time-related iconography in art, from medieval church clocks to Renaissance astronomical representations.

### Relationship to Clock Face Entity

The Beginning of Time painting is directly connected to the broader concept of the clock face. While the Zytglogge's actual clock face (the astronomical dial with its moving figures) serves a functional purpose, Surbek's painted clock face operates on a symbolic level, representing time's philosophical and existential dimensions.

This relationship places the artwork within a category of clock face representations that transcend mere timekeeping—joining such diverse examples as the Eise Eisinga Planetarium's astronomical ceiling, which integrates clock face elements with celestial data, and the famous astronomical clocks of Prague and other European cities. The painting demonstrates how the clock face has evolved from a purely functional device to a canvas for artistic and philosophical expression.

### Preservation and Documentation

The painting has been documented in multiple heritage databases and archival sources. Reference to its existence appears in Swiss architectural and art historical publications, with documentation in the e-periodica digital library. The artwork is categorized in Wikimedia Commons under "Fassadenmalerei Beginn der Zeit (Victor Surbek 1930)," ensuring ongoing digital preservation.

The OpenStreetMap relation ID 9572365 provides geolocational documentation, while the artwork's inclusion in Wikidata (as related to the clock face entity Q18336371) establishes its place in linked open data repositories. These documentation efforts ensure the painting's accessibility to researchers, tourists, and heritage professionals.

### Cultural Impact

The Beginning of Time contributes to Bern's identity as a city where historical preservation meets artistic innovation. While the Zytglogge's astronomical clock attracts thousands of visitors annually, the mural offers an additional layer of cultural engagement—inviting reflection on time's passage while also demonstrating how 20th-century artists engaged with medieval urban spaces.

The painting's presence on such a prominent landmark also illustrates the Swiss approach to integrating contemporary art within historic contexts, balancing respect for architectural heritage with openness to artistic evolution. This approach has helped maintain Bern's Old Town as a living cultural landscape rather than a static museum piece.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.e-periodica.ch/digbib/view?pid=zgh-001:1990:52::115)
2. [Source](https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/9572365)