Willow tree by the lake 1890

Ferdinand Hodler created this oil painting, "Willow tree by the lake," using a relatively muted palette, where the green of the tree and surrounding foliage contrasts with the sky and tranquil water. Hodler's brushstrokes evoke a sense of immediacy and the materiality of paint, yet the composition also draws us into the scene. The willow tree’s organic form takes center stage. Its trunk, rendered with expressive lines, shows both strength and vulnerability, while the delicate branches reach upwards. In the background, we see the subtle gradations of the water and sky. The horizon line is blurred, suggesting a union between earth and sky. The rocks in the foreground offer a sense of stability, grounding the ethereal qualities of the scene. Hodler here explores themes of nature and emotion with a restrained but powerful formal language, highlighting the beauty of the natural world through its shape, form, color and structure.