Self portrait 1912

This is a self-portrait by Ferdinand Hodler, dimensions 33.5 x 27 cm. Hodler was a Swiss painter whose life spanned a period of immense social and political transformation in Europe. Here, Hodler stares directly at us, an unflinching gaze that seems to penetrate beyond the surface. His rosy skin tones, perhaps indicative of health, contrast with the dark circles under his eyes, suggesting fatigue or perhaps a deeper emotional weight. Hodler lived through a time when traditional notions of masculinity were being challenged, particularly in artistic circles. It’s as if he's asking us, 'what does it mean to be a man, an artist, in this rapidly changing world?' Hodler seems to be caught between tradition and modernity, a tension that resonates with his own identity and perhaps with the broader societal shifts of his time. He invites us to reflect on our own identities.