The conquest of time, a triptych of frescoes produced by Hans Erni for the Brussels World Fair (1958).

The Brussels World Fair opened on the 17th April 1958. The layout of the Watchmaking Section in the Swiss Pavilion was designed by the architect Hans Gübelin and the artist Hans Erni. Restrained, bright and elegant, the space planned by the architect was decorated with three large frescoes by Hans Erni, fronted by a pool to give the necessary distance.

Hans Erni's design for the three frescoes was primarily inspired by discussions with those responsible for the horological section, who provided him with a wealth of documents and information. He presented his work as a triptych: The history of time measurement – The techniques of time measurement – The philosophy of time measurement.

The backgrounds of the egg tempera frescoes are produced using a method dear to the artist – the still wet paint is covered with newspaper, which is removed to create subtle mixtures and dynamic movements. The painter then uses firm, bold strokes to trace the contour of his subjects. The background of each painting creates the general tone for the tableau. The content of each work is described thoroughly in the museum's audio guides, adding to the fascination of the discovery.