An artwork on Galleree from The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About the artwork
The Dream of the Shepherd (Der Traum des Hirten)Ferdinand Hodler
Swiss, Bern 1853–1918 Geneva
1896
98 1/2 × 51 3/8 in. (250.2 × 130.5 cm)
Painting
Oil on canvas
European Paintings
Purchase, European Paintings Funds, Lila Acheson Wallace Gift, Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Collection, Wolfe Fund, Charles and Jessie Price Gift, funds from various donors, and Bequests of Collis P. Huntington and Isaac D. Fletcher, by exchange, 2013
In "The Dream of the Shepherd," Ferdinand Hodler presents a powerful exploration of longing and aspiration. The artwork depicts a shepherd, seated on the ground, his head resting on one hand, signaling deep contemplation. He grips a staff, a symbol of his weary daily life, surrounded by rocks that create a stark contrast to his dreamlike vision above.
In the upper part of the painting, ethereal figures of women dance joyfully, representing a world of beauty and freedom that stands in stark contrast to the shepherd's reality. Their graceful forms and playful movements suggest a realm of dreams and desires that seem out of reach. This dual composition hints at the shepherd’s inner conflict—grounded in his mundane existence yet yearning for something more transcendent.
The soft, muted colors envelop the shepherd in a contemplative mood, while the dynamic lines of the dancing figures draw the viewer’s eye upward, urging a connection between the relatable struggles of everyday life and the aspirational nature of dreams. Hodler captures this tension beautifully, inviting us to reflect on the dreams we hold and the realities we navigate. In this artwork, the simplicity of the shepherd's posture speaks volumes about the complexity of human emotions, making it a profound meditation on the nature of hope and aspiration.
About the artist
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