Who painted Einmütigkeit?

Einmütigkeit was painted by Ferdinand Hodler in 1912.

Where can I see Einmütigkeit?

Einmütigkeit is held by Kunsthaus Zürich.

Einmütigkeit by Ferdinand Hodler (1912) — Meaning & Museum

About this work

Overview

Created in 1912, *Einmütigkeit* is an oil painting by Swiss artist Ferdinand Hodler, now part of the Kunsthaus Zürich collection. The work belongs to Hodler’s mature phase, during which he pursued a highly ordered, rhythmically structured visual language that he described as "parallelism." The composition presents a unified group of figures rendered in vivid hues against a muted gray backdrop.

Subject & Meaning

The canvas shows a procession of men arranged in a linear formation, each raising an arm toward the sky. Their garments range from formal robes to more informal attire, their varied colors amplifying a sense of collective vigor. The uplifted gestures and flowing drapery suggest a shared, perhaps ceremonial, intent, emphasizing solidarity and collective energy rather than individual narrative.

Technique & Style

This approach reflects his Symbolist‑inspired parallelism, where repetition and symmetry generate an almost musical cadence across the surface.

Hodler employs a flat, decorative treatment of form, reducing the figures to simplified silhouettes while maintaining a strong sense of rhythm through repeated vertical lines. The limited background tone allows the saturated clothing to dominate, creating visual momentum. This approach reflects his Symbolist‑inspired parallelism, where repetition and symmetry generate an almost musical cadence across the surface.

History & Provenance

Painted at the height of Hodler’s shift from naturalistic portraiture toward symbolic abstraction, *Einmütigkeit* entered the Kunsthaus Zürich’s holdings shortly after its completion, becoming a representative example of his later oeuvre. The work has remained in the museum’s permanent collection, serving as a reference point for studies of early 20th‑century Swiss Symbolism.

Artist & collection

Artist

Ferdinand Hodler

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…

Museum

Kunsthaus Zürich

Continue through works from the same source collection.