Q131586051

Painted in 1890, this canvas belongs to the pivotal decade when Ferdinand Hodler was forging Parallelism — the compositional philosophy that would define his mature style. By 1890 Hodler had shed the academic realism of his Geneva training and was experimenting with rhythmic repetition of forms and the flattening of pictorial space. The Kunsthaus Zürich holds the largest institutional collection of Hodler's work, tracing his development from journeyman portraitist to internationally celebrated Symbolist. The early 1890s saw Hodler gaining recognition across the German-speaking world: Night (1890) caused a scandal and then a sensation at the Paris Salon of 1891, transforming his reputation overnight. Works from this threshold moment capture an artist absorbing influences from Symbolism while remaining rooted in the alpine landscape and Swiss peasant subjects he knew intimately. The Kunsthaus systematically acquired canvases across all phases, ensuring a comprehensive record of a career marked by philosophical ambition and formal daring.

Hodler worked on canvas with oil, using the controlled, deliberate brushwork characteristic of his 1890s output. Forms are simplified toward essential contours, and tonal contrast is managed to reinforce psychological weight rather than naturalistic volume. His palette at this period favoured earthy undergrowth tones counterpointed by cooler blues and greys.