Lake Geneva from Chexbres 1904

Ferdinand Hodler painted this view of Lake Geneva from Chexbres with oil on canvas. The way Hodler lays down the paint feels so methodical, like he's building something solid but with an openness to the light. The surface of the lake is built up with these horizontal bands of color, mostly blues and greens, that give it a real feeling of depth and movement. Look closely, and you'll notice how he uses subtle variations in tone to suggest ripples and reflections, not trying to copy the scene, but to evoke it. Then there’s that band of clouds just hovering, like they’re waiting for something, casting a shadow on the water. It’s so simple, but it creates this powerful mood. I'm reminded of Cézanne, the way he broke down the landscape into these essential forms. Both artists were searching for a way to capture something fundamental about the world, not just what it looks like, but how it feels to be in it. It is like a conversation across time, each artist adding their own voice to the mix.