“A Troubled Soul,” created by Ferdinand Hodler, is a Post-Impressionist portrait that is currently housed in the Kunstmuseum Basel in Basel, Switzerland. The artwork exemplifies the poignant emotional depth characteristic of Hodler’s work.
The artwork portrays a downcast elderly man slumped over in contemplation or sorrow, his head resting on his folded arms atop a cane. The man’s attire is simple and dark, contributing to the somber mood of the piece. The background is painted with subdued tones, featuring an interior setting with minimal furnishings—a chair and a table with indistinguishable objects only partially visible. The artist’s expressive brushwork and keen attention to the subject’s weary expression and posture evoke a profound sense of introspection and melancholy.
