Pulling soldiers 1908

Ferdinand Hodler created this pencil drawing called ‘Pulling Soldiers’ sometime between the late 19th and early 20th century. It depicts a group of soldiers, their forms overlapping and blending together. Hodler was a Swiss painter known for his Symbolist and Art Nouveau style. This drawing might relate to Switzerland's unique position as a neutral country with a citizen army. The image creates meaning through its depiction of collective action and perhaps the anonymity of soldiers within a larger military structure. The grid-like background could also be seen as a visual metaphor for the regimentation of military life. Was Hodler making a comment on Swiss militarism, or perhaps exploring universal themes of duty and sacrifice? To fully understand Hodler's intention, one could research the history of Swiss military service, the cultural attitudes towards war and peace in Switzerland at the time, and the institutional context in which Hodler was working. Art gains meaning within its specific social and institutional circumstances.