The artwork titled “At the foot of the Petit Saleve” was painted by Ferdinand Hodler in 1890. The piece, executed in oil on canvas, measures 71.5 by 52.5 centimeters and is part of the Realism art movement. It falls within the landscape genre, capturing the serene and natural beauty of the environment.
The artwork portrays a tranquil scene at the base of Petit Salève, a mountain near Geneva. The composition is dominated by a rocky ridge stretching across the upper part of the canvas, with layers of exposed rock interspersed with patches of green vegetation. In the middle ground, dense clusters of trees and bushes add texture and depth to the scene. A gentle stream runs through the lower portion of the painting, its calm water reflecting the surrounding foliage and sky. The artist’s use of light and color effectively conveys the peaceful atmosphere of this scenic locale. Extravagant yellow, green, and brown tones interlace harmoniously, highlighting the lushness of the vegetation and the rugged terrain of the landscape. Silent and majestic, the setting speaks to Hodler’s keen observation of nature’s details and his masterful depiction of the serene beauty inherent in such landscapes.
