Lake Geneva in Chexbres 1911

Ferdinand Hodler painted Lake Geneva in Chexbres with oil on canvas. There is a real feeling of process in this painting - like Hodler worked and reworked the surface over a long period. The application of paint is so thin it’s translucent. The color palette here is incredibly delicate. The violet hue of the mountains is reflected in the lake, creating an overall sense of harmony and balance. The eye is led gently around the composition, moving from the mountains in the background, across the water, and down to the grassy bank in the foreground. Look closely at the trees that interrupt the skyline on the left, their thin trunks add a poetic touch to this scene. The rhythm and repetition of the lines creates a feeling of movement and depth. Hodler’s simplification of form is often compared to the work of artists like Edvard Munch, another artist who captured the emotional resonance of nature. Both artists invite us to slow down and consider the world around us in new and unexpected ways.