The fisherman 1879

Ferdinand Hodler made this oil on canvas painting, The Fisherman, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. Hodler applied the paint in such a way to suggest a scene of recreation, and familial bonding along the riverside, but the making of the picture is equally fascinating. He employed a technique of layering and blending, softening the textures to create a hazy atmosphere. This was no doubt achieved through hours of labor, steadily building up the image. The very act of painting here could be compared to the patient work of the fisherman himself, each brushstroke a cast of the line. In both cases, a skilled practice is evident. Paying attention to the material process through which this painting was produced enriches our understanding of the artwork, prompting us to consider the cultural significance of both labor and leisure in the making of modern life.