Open until 9:00 PM on Tuesdays

Exhibitions 09.04.2008 – 06.08.2008

Hodler’s oeuvre in an unparalleled overview

Ferdinand Hodler «A symbolist vision»

The Museum of Fine Arts Bern presents one of the most important and extensive Hodler exhibitions with over 150 masterpieces of all the artist's periods. The exhibition is a collaboration of the Museum of Fine Arts Bern and the Museum of Fine Arts Budapest.

The main focus is on Ferdinand Hodler's vision of a great, harmonious unity of Humankind and Nature. The presentation makes clear that Hodler, from his early work through to his late work, consistently intensified his depiction of reality towards the symbolic and with this very personal œuvre, made a major contribution to the avant-garde of his time.

Outstanding Large Format Paintings

For the first time, different settings of the large, symbolic figure compositions are systematically placed in relation to one another thus making new insights into Hodler's complex development of motif possible. The landscapes, portraits and self-portraits of the artist also shed light on Hodler's working method and his artistic credo. 

A Main Cultural Event of 2008

This exhibition is one of the main cultural events of 2008. It has been conceived by Katharina Schmidt and Matthias Frehner. The exhibition is accompanied by a program of special events and an exhibition cataloguein German and English, edited by Katharina Schmidt in collaboration with László Baán and Matthias Frehner,  including a series of new contributions on recent research by international specialists. The artist will thus be lastingly repositioned.