Artwork
Eine Gewissensfrage. Rechtes Fragment
Eine Gewissensfrage. Rechtes Fragment is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Ferdinand Hodler. It dates from 1889 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich. Eine Gewissensfrage.
About this work
Overview
Eine Gewissensfrage. Rechtes Fragment is an 1889 oil painting by Ferdinand Hodler, a pivotal Swiss artist of the late 19th century. This work marks a transitional phase in Hodler's oeuvre, bridging his earlier realistic genre scenes and his subsequent adoption of Symbolism.
Subject & Meaning
The painting is a portrait of a man with dark hair and mustache, dressed in a dark jacket, white shirt, and dark tie. Set against a dark background, the subject's face and attire are rendered in sharp contrast, drawing focus to his detailed, realistically depicted features.
Technique & Style
Hodler employed oil paint to achieve a high level of realism, particularly in the subject's face, where skin texture and eye shape are meticulously rendered. Emerging elements of his 'parallelism'—a symbolic approach—are also present, foreshadowing his shift towards Symbolism.
History & Provenance
Created in 1889, the painting is part of Hodler's transitional works. It is currently held in the collection of Kunsthaus Zürich.
Context
This work reflects Hodler's artistic evolution in the late 19th century, a period of significant stylistic transformation for the artist. It showcases his gradual move from realism towards more symbolic and expressive forms of painting.
Legacy
As a transitional work, *Eine Gewissensfrage. Rechtes Fragment* provides insight into Hodler's development and the broader artistic currents of the late 19th century, particularly the transition from Realism to Symbolism in European painting.
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…
