Artwork
Bildnis Helene Thiele
Bildnis Helene Thiele is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Ferdinand Hodler. It dates from 1900 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich.
About this work
Overview
Bildnis Helene Thiele is a portrait painted in 1900 by Swiss artist Ferdinand Hodler, executed in oil paint. It is part of the Kunsthaus Zürich collection.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts Helene Thiele from the waist up, facing left, with a serious expression. She wears a blue dress with a ruffled collar and sleeves, and holds a purple flower with a long stem against a light background with a hint of green on the left.
Technique & Style
Created during Hodler's transition towards Symbolism, the work reflects elements of Post-Impressionism. Hodler's concept of 'parallelism'—emphasizing rhythmic forms and expressive simplicity—begins to emerge in the composition's harmony and the subject's contemplative pose.
History & Provenance
Painted in 1900, Bildnis Helene Thiele is now held in the permanent collection of Kunsthaus Zürich, Switzerland.
Context
This work sits at a pivotal moment in Hodler's career, bridging his earlier realism with the Symbolist and 'parallelist' themes that would dominate his later output.
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…
