The Disillusioned One (1892)
Technique: Giclée quality print
Recommended by our customers
More about this artwork
On display at our gallery is a stirring representation of human emotion and the unavoidable encounter with despair, as portrayed in "The Disillusioned One," an exquisite piece by the renowned Swiss painter Ferdinand Hodler. This painting reflects the emotional intensity and psychological depth that Hodler was famed for.The artwork depicts an elderly man, dressed in a long black robe, sunk deep in the throes of disillusionment. He sits mostly hunched over, with his hands tightly clasped together, embodying the weight of his internal struggles. The figure, with his bowed head and downturned eyes, avoids direct contact with the viewer, enhancing the private nature of his sorrow.Hodler's use of muted colors further echoes the somber mood of the scene, while the subtle inclusion of wildflowers at the side of the bench introduces a juxtaposition—perhaps indicating that life and hope persist subtly even in moments of profound sorrow.This painting invites viewers to contemplate the complexities of human emotions, and the universality of despair.