Ferdinand Hodler

Ferdinand Hodler, a name as familiar in the art world as a well-ripened cheese in Switzerland, was born in Bern on March 14, 1853. Considered one of the most important Swiss painters of the 19th and early 20th centuries, Hodler had a childhood as dramatic as a Charles Dickens novel. After the early death of his father and siblings from tuberculosis, he and his mother moved to Geneva, where he began his artistic training. These tragic events shaped not only his life but also his art, which is often permeated by themes such as death and transcendence.

Hodler's artistic journey was as varied as a Swiss Army knife. He began with landscape paintings so precise you could almost smell the Alpine air, but he soon turned to Symbolism, a movement as mysterious as a Swiss bank account. His works are known for their monumental simplicity and use of parallelism, a technique he masterfully employed to depict the harmony and rhythm of nature. Hodler was a master at transforming the mundane into something sublime, and his paintings are often imbued with a spiritual intensity that captivates the viewer.

Interesting fact:

Hodler was not only a gifted painter, but also a man with a strong sense of humor. Once, when asked by a critic why he painted so many self-portraits, he replied dryly, "Because I don't have to pay the model." Hodler was also a passionate dancer and was said to have often dominated the dance floor at social events. His love of dance is reflected in the dynamic movement and rhythm of many of his works.

Important works of art & pictures by Ferdinand Hodler:

1. "The Woodcutter" (1886)
2. "The Night" (1889-1890)
3. "The Day" (1899-1900)
4. "The Chosen One" (1893-1894)
5. "The Truth" (1903)
6. "Lake Geneva from Chexbres" (1905)
7. "The Retreat from Marignano" (1908)
8. ""The View into Infinity"" (1916)
9. "The Day of Eternity" (1910)
10. "Self-portrait with wide eyes" (1912)

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