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Ferdinand Hodler. A profession of faith
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Open in the appThis exhibition examines for the first time the links between the painting of Ferdinand Hodler (1853-1918) and the religious. In his youth, the Swiss painter was an avid reader of the Bible. He incorporated rare biblical scenes in his painting, particularly that of the Good… This exhibition examines for the first time the links between the painting of Ferdinand Hodler (1853-1918) and the religious. In his youth, the Swiss painter was an avid reader of the Bible. He incorporated rare biblical scenes in his painting, particularly that of the Good Samaritan. Of Bernese origin, a Protestant by faith, he also created a painting that connects him to the Reformation and the city of Geneva: Calvin in the courtyard of the College. Several church interiors and scenes of prayer are also known. Exploring the religious roots of Ferdinand Hodler, this exhibition mainly develops how the painter makes the idea of creation his own, transposing it onto nature and developing through his artistic theory almost a form of pantheism. The belief that the order of nature expresses a higher unity guided the creation of Hodler's most important works, particularly his last great symbolist compositions, such as Gaze into infinity, and the landscapes he calls "planetary", inviting meditation and elevation. The exhibition traces, through some twenty-five paintings, the different professions of faith of Hodler and the spiritual stages of his journey.