Portrait of a man reading 1888

Ferdinand Hodler’s ‘Portrait of a Man Reading’ is an oil painting that presents us with a figure absorbed in thought. Hodler’s confident brushstrokes model form and capture light, creating a captivating, almost tangible presence. We can imagine him layering the colors, building up the textures of the skin, hair, and the book in the sitter's hands, and can almost smell the oil paint. The traditional materials lend the work a timeless quality that resonates across centuries. The layering creates depth, dimension, and a sense of the sitter's character emerging from the canvas, his intellectual pursuits and private moments exposed for all to see. Hodler engages in skilled traditions of fine art painting, with the production involving labor-intensive processes, from preparing the canvas to grinding pigments and mixing paints. In doing so, Hodler elevates the sitter's status and imbues the scene with a sense of dignity, showing his subject in a moment of quiet contemplation. Paying attention to materials, making, and context is crucial to understanding the painting's significance and its place within the larger history of art and culture.