Standing female figure in a blue dress 1915

Editor: Here we have Ferdinand Hodler's "Standing female figure in a blue dress" from 1915, painted in oil and watercolor. The figure is strikingly angular and seems burdened by a weight, despite the light, almost ethereal blue of her dress. It feels like the artist is exploring a very private kind of grief. What strikes you most about this piece? Curator: The overwhelming feeling for me is of the individual pitted against something much larger than themselves – fate, perhaps, or a sense of inevitable sorrow. You see it in that slight downward tilt of her head. I see her as a symbol, an allegory, her simplified form almost like a figure in a medieval tapestry despite its modernity. Hodler was deeply influenced by symbolism and sought to convey profound emotional states through simplified forms and harmonious compositions. He's really channeling some primal human experiences, don't you think? Does her vulnerability get through to you? Editor: Definitely, it's almost unnerving. But what about the hints of green in her skin, and the almost geometric quality to her limbs? Is that typical of Hodler? Curator: Absolutely. It’s part of what makes him, him! That use of color is pure emotion speaking. And the geometric, almost crystalline structure? Hodler called it "parallelism." He believed that repeating forms and structures in nature reflected a deeper universal harmony. In her form you find Hodler suggesting she reflects or is an integral piece of the wider world. But consider, is that a harmonious unity or the harmony of all humans in times of adversity? Editor: That’s fascinating! It definitely gives me a new appreciation for the intentionality behind even seemingly simple elements. Curator: Indeed! Hodler shows that art can be like a mirror reflecting the shared human condition. I have goosebumps now. Editor: Mine too. There is so much going on beneath the surface. Thanks for this insight!