Although the works of Ferdinand Hodler (1853-1918) are still little known outside of Switzerland, they reflect the major themes and subjects of late 19"-and carly 20"-century European art. Born in poverty in Berne, Hodler developed his art first in accord with Realist tendencies and then adopted a Symbolist ideology which focused on the universal themes of life and death, the cycles of nature, and the intimate relationships of man to his surroundings. With such large paintings as Night (1891) and The Chosen One (1893), Hodler elaborated a uniquely pictorial language that is bold and insightful, which won acclaim in major European art centres. In his landscapes, often reflective of his personal belief in the parallelism of forms, Hodler sought an art of harmony and musical expression that is singular, while his remarkable paintings documenting the death of his mistress in 19i5 reveal a painful visual diary of suffering and mourning that is strikingly matchless.