Final answer:
Swiss artists in Basel, exemplified by Georg Baselitz, differed from Zurich's style by utilizing strategies such as inversion and emphasizing color, line, and shape to navigate between figuration and abstraction.
Step-by-step explanation:
In contrast to the prevailing style in Zurich, Swiss artists in Basel tended to incorporate a distinct approach towards art, specifically in the realm of Neo-Expressionism. Georg Baselitz, one of the founders of the Neo-Expressionist movement, utilized inversion in his paintings, which was a method for navigating between abstraction and figuration. He placed significant emphasis on color, line, and shape, allowing viewers to engage more deeply with the fundamental elements of the artwork rather than the narrative content. In Baselitz's work, like 'Dinner in Dresden', the application of contrasting colors and the inverted composition are striking examples of this technique. Historically, Baselitz was influenced by German Expressionism and American Pop Art, contributing to the complexity of his works. Basel artists inclined towards demonstrating geometric forms, and often employed unconventional or arbitrary colors, challenging the more figurative and themed work seen in Zurich.