Before the First World War, he painted a huge mural in Hanover’s new town hall, portraits influenced by Klimt, and more marvellous landscapes. Here they are.
landscape
Two major figurative works, The Woodcutter and The Reaper, and a succession of landscapes with increasing rhythm and symmetry, and reduction to basic elements of form, colour, light.
His love of rhythm and symmetry became clear in his figurative and landscape paintings, and attained international success at last.
He came to specialise in views of Lake Lucerne, but also painted some superb views of trees, and some chalets above Turner’s favourite Rigi.
His Symbolism or Parallelism continued to develop in figurative works, whilst his landscape included breathtaking views over Lake Geneva, and in the Bernese Alps.
One of Hodler’s early influences, Calame was very successful in painting “Swiss horrors” showing the Alps, storms, and raging torrents. They’re still awe-inspiring works.
Fascinating paintings showing his transition from realism to Symbolism, emphasising symmetry and rhythm in society.
At the start, he was a traditional realist.
After fleeing from Poland to Paris, he became a student of Paul Gauguin at Pont-Aven in 1889, and moved to Le Pouldu in 1894. He died 100 years ago.
He returned to one theme repeatedly: reflections in the rippled and turbulent surface of a river.
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