Lake Geneva with Mont Blanc at dawn 1918

Editor: This is Ferdinand Hodler’s "Lake Geneva with Mont Blanc at dawn," painted in 1918, a watercolor piece. It strikes me as intensely serene, almost ethereal, with those soft pastel hues. What’s your take on it? Curator: Ethereal is a great word for it! To me, Hodler is painting a feeling as much as a place. The year it was created, 1918, near the end of World War I, provides an emotional resonance to it. The pinks, yellows and blues reflecting each other...it’s like a promise of peace, a visual exhale after turmoil. Editor: A visual exhale, I like that! I hadn't really considered the historical context... So do you think the colors themselves contribute to that feeling? Curator: Absolutely. Hodler simplifies the landscape, using broad, horizontal bands of color. This evokes a sense of stillness, of a world holding its breath. The colors feel both soft and powerful. The pinks of the dawn feel very quiet. Do you think that a photograph could achieve that emotional affect? Editor: I see what you mean about the stillness. A photo would capture the scene accurately, but it couldn't distill the feeling like this. It's almost dreamlike. This has been a good reminder for me to consider not just what is depicted in the art, but when and where. Curator: And more importantly, how it makes *you* feel, darling. Now, go forth and trust your instincts when viewing a work!