Artwork
Das Lied aus der Ferne
Das Lied aus der Ferne is an oil painting by the Symbolist artist Ferdinand Hodler. It dates from 1913 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1913, *Das Lied aus der Ferne* is an oil painting by Swiss artist Ferdinand Hodler. Executed during the later phase of his career, the work exemplifies his personal Symbolist language, often described as “parallelism.” The canvas is part of the permanent holdings of the Kunsthaus Zürich, where it is displayed among his other late period pieces.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a solitary woman dressed in a deep blue gown, standing barefoot and facing the viewer. Her arms are raised, palms open, and her expression is solemn, suggesting a moment of vocal or emotional release. The surrounding green field dotted with yellow‑blue floral motifs reinforces a lyrical atmosphere, inviting interpretation of inner song or spiritual yearning.
Technique & Style
Hodler employs broad, confident brushwork and a saturated palette to convey intensity.
Hodler employs broad, confident brushwork and a saturated palette to convey intensity. The figure’s contours are rendered with simplified, almost flattened forms, while the background pattern oscillates in rhythmic bands, creating visual vibration. This juxtaposition of clear, monumental figure against a dynamic decorative ground typifies Hodler’s Symbolist approach, where emotive content outweighs strict naturalistic detail.
History & Provenance
After its completion, the painting entered the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich, where it has remained in public custody. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s commitment to representing the evolution of Swiss modernism, particularly Hodler’s shift from early realist portraiture and landscape toward a more abstracted, expressive visual language.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ferdinand Hodler (March 14, 1853 – May 19, 1918) was a Swiss painter. He is one of the best-known Swiss painters of the nineteenth century. His early works were portraits, landscapes, and genre paintings in a realistic…
