Running women 1895

Ferdinand Hodler created "Running Women" with oil on canvas to evoke the feeling of movement through a series of female figures. Each is caught in a moment of forward momentum. Hodler masterfully uses a limited palette and repetitive forms to suggest rhythm and progression. Observe how the ochre and earthy tones of the dresses blend, creating a sense of unity. Hodler uses 'parallelism' to create a sense of order. The linear arrangement emphasizes a shared direction and synchronized movement. Hodler here is working towards a theory of art that he called 'Parallelism', which stipulated that people, emotions and forms repeat themselves in life and art. The women themselves are largely indistinguishable, contributing to a collective rather than individual experience. Hodler's treatment of space is also notable. The background is vague. This ambiguity focuses attention on the figures, which seems to suggest the universality of motion and collective human action. The formal qualities of repetition and rhythmic composition invite contemplation on the structure of movement.