Idyll

Arnold Böcklin completed this Idyll in 1866, an oil on canvas measuring 73 x 98 cm. The work belongs to his Symbolist period and depicts nude figures in a mythological landscape. Böcklin often returned to idyllic themes throughout his career, creating several variations on pastoral scenes with classical subjects.

The Swiss painter (1827-1901) became one of the most influential Symbolist artists of the 19th century. His five versions of Isle of the Dead later inspired compositions by Rachmaninoff and other late Romantic composers. Böcklin's work combines classical mythology with a darker, more mysterious sensibility that anticipates Surrealism.

Idyll shows Böcklin's skill with the human form and his interest in creating dreamlike atmospheres. The painting hangs at the Kunsthaus Zürich, which maintains a dedicated room for his work. The museum holds one of the finest collections of Böcklin's nature and mythological paintings.