The mill of Sous Terre in Geneva 1878

Ferdinand Hodler created "The Mill of Sous Terre in Geneva" with oil on canvas. Hodler painted this landscape during a period of significant social and political change in Switzerland. The late 19th and early 20th centuries marked a time when Switzerland was navigating its identity amidst industrialization and urbanization. Hodler's work often reflects a deep connection to the natural world and a search for national identity. In this painting, the mill itself is a symbol of a more rural, traditional way of life, while the surrounding landscape hints at the encroachment of modernity. Hodler was committed to depicting Swiss landscapes and people in a way that celebrated their unique character. Hodler once said, "Each work of art is the child of its time." He captured the tension between the past and the present. The artwork resonates as an appreciation of the land, as well as a reflection of how identity is tied to place and tradition.