Ferdinand Hodler was one of the most important Swiss painters of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Associated with Symbolism and Art Nouveau, Hodler developed a unique style known as “parallelism,” a method of arranging figures, shapes, and colors in rhythmic repetition to create harmony and emotional intensity.

His art often explores themes such as life, death, nature, and human spirituality. Hodler’s landscapes of Swiss lakes and mountains—especially views of Lake Geneva and the Alps, are celebrated for their calm structure, luminous colors, and sense of timelessness.

Among his most famous works are The Night, a powerful symbolic scene representing sleep and mortality, and The Day, which portrays awakening and renewal. His monumental historical painting Retreat from Marignano is also considered one of the masterpieces of Swiss national art.

Die Nacht (The Night) by Ferdinand Hodler