Study of self-portrait 1916

Ferdinand Hodler created this study of a self-portrait with pencil on paper. Hodler lived through a time of significant social change. His work captured the growing sense of national identity in Switzerland, while mirroring the Symbolist movement's focus on inner emotional states. This self-portrait gives us an intimate glimpse into Hodler's perception of himself. We see an aging man, his features lined and weighted with experience. It makes you wonder about the impact on Hodler of personal tragedies, such as the early loss of his parents and siblings to tuberculosis. His face is etched with what might be a lifetime of grief, yet his gaze is direct and unflinching, as if confronting his mortality. Hodler produced a series of self-portraits throughout his life, each reflecting his evolving emotional and physical state. Ultimately, this study is not just a depiction of an individual but a reflection on the universal themes of aging, self-awareness, and the human condition. It invites us to contemplate our own identities and how they are shaped by time, experience, and the ever-present awareness of our own mortality.