The Speaker
Ferdinand Hodler captures a moment of intense oratory in this energetic sketch, likely depicting a worker given the flat cap and sturdy clothes. The figure stands firmly on a platform with one arm thrust upward, commanding the room with heroic energy. Faint grid lines in the background reveal this as a preparatory study, showing how the artist planned the proportions for a larger composition. While associated with Symbolism, this piece hints at Hodler's famous 'Parallelism' style, where he used rhythmic, almost statue-like poses to give everyday people a sense of monumental power.