Die Wahrheit

1903

not on display
Ferdinand Hodler1853 Bern – 1918 Genf
We have 150 artworks by Ferdinand Hodler online.
We have 1824 paintings online.
The composition of 'Truth' can be regarded as a Symbolist transposition of the early history painting 'Calvin and the Professors' (1883/84; Geneva, Musée d'art et d'histoire). It developed in the context of the Symbolist compositions of the 1890s and detached itself in its definitive form from the compositional ideas for the 'Day' in 1898/99. The first painted version was created in 1902, the second, decidedly more intense and stylised one followed in autumn 1903 for the exhibition at the Vienna Secession in 1904. For Hodler, the woman represents the truth from which the dark men flee (cf. Ferdinand Hodler. From the Early Work to the Turn of the Century. Drawings from the Prints and Drawings Collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich (Zurich 1990; Collection Booklet 15), 1990, pp. 147-165).
Also known as
Truth Die Wahrheit. Zweite Fassung [historic]
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
image: 208 x 294.5 cm
Inventory number
2162
Credit line
Kunsthaus Zürich, permanent loan of the City of Zurich, 1930