Lake Geneva with Mont Blanc in the morning light 1918

Ferdinand Hodler made this landscape of Lake Geneva with Mont Blanc using oil paint on canvas. Hodler diluted his paints and applied them in thin horizontal bands. Notice how these gentle layers build up the scene. The materiality of oil paint – its viscosity, transparency, and blendability – allowed Hodler to capture the nuances of light and atmosphere. He thinned the paint to veil-like consistency to depict the ethereal quality of the morning light on the lake. Hodler’s technique involved repetitive, almost meditative, layering of color. This adds to the overall harmony of the composition, evoking a sense of tranquility and timelessness. Hodler was deeply interested in nature, which he considered a source of spiritual renewal and inspiration. His approach to painting, with its emphasis on direct observation and emotional expression, aligns him with the broader Symbolist movement. The application of paint as a labor-intensive act becomes almost devotional. By focusing on the materials and processes involved, we gain a richer understanding of the artwork's meaning, appreciating the labor, skill, and creative vision that shaped it.