Ferdinand Hodler, Le Lac de Thoune et la chaîne du Stockhorn, 1905, Collection Christoph Blocher

They were born ten and twenty years apart, never met, but painted many themes in common : the Swiss Hodler (1853-1918) whom I revere, the French Monet (1840-1926), whose museum we are in and the Norwegian Munch (1863-1944) best known for his “Shout”. An extraordinary exhibition at musée Marmottan Monet, unites these three giants of landscape painting on the common theme of nature.

Edvard Munch, “Homme noir et jaune dans la neige”, 1910-1912, Oslo, Munchmuseet © Munch Museum

I am always worried about shows at Marmottan because the rooms are so small and crowded that you try to see chefs d’œuvre and have to bear the groups of well-to-do ladies who won’t let you get close to the works. So this time I went early at opening (10 am) and only encountered a few school kids. Charming…

Claude Monet, Norwegian Landscape, Blue Houses, 1895, Musée Marmottan Monet

In the first room three portraist of the artists give us a dark vision of them. But immediately, the « Promeneur à l’orée du bois » by Hodler lightens up our vision. It is a pure delight in deep greens. Then follow the mountains in the snow around Lac Léman and Lac de Thoune with pinks and blues that only snowy mountains can bring.

Ferdinand Hodler, Le Mönch dans les nuages, 1911, Switzerland private collection

And rediscovering Ferdinand Hodler, the famous Swiss painter, was a unique emotion. Thanks to the help of Leonard Gianadda, whose foundation in Martigny is one of the marvels of Switzerland, the curator of the show, Philippe Dagen, secured many pieces in Swiss private collections and Hodler’s 15 or so paintings of mountains are astonishing. Especially when seen together. For me they are the key to the success of the exhibition.

Edvard Munch, “Snow landscape Thuringe” 1906, Wuppertal, Von der Heydt-Museum © Medienzentrum, Antje Zeis-Loi

Another surprise is that Claude Monet travelled to Norway even though he did not know Munch at the time and he painted a few houses in the snow which are miraculously poetic.
Munch whose works come from the Munchmuseet in Oslo (partner of the exhibition) surprises us again with his strong dark vision tinted in white. A second part of the show concentrates on the sun, the moon and on flowing water. The paintings are more predictable except for the orange flashy works by Munch.

Ferdinand Hodler, Le Lac de Thoune et la chaîne du Stockhorn, 1904, Collection Christoph Blocher

Some people will find that the association of the three painters is a little far fetched but it gives us the occasion to compare three masters who lived parallel lives and focused on similar themes.
It is a very pleasing show, with enough tenderness and strength to accompany us during these holiday weeks. And it is less crowded than other larger museums. (Musée Marmottan Monet, until January 22, closed on Mondays)