Ferdinand Hodler (Swiss, 1853–1918). Student from Jena. 1908. Photo Credit: bpk, Berlin / Bayerische Staatsgemaeldesammlunger, Munich, Germany / Neue Pinakothek / Art Resource, NY.

A tragic figure in many ways—his parents and 5 siblings all died of tuberculosis, and he had a series of tortured romantic relationships—Hodler painted a remarkable range of subjects, from landscapes to portraits, in a variety of styles (expressionism, realism, ritual symbolism). Many of Hodler's most famous works focus on people doing ordinary things. This painting appears to be based on one figure from a larger work, “Jena Students Depart for the War of Liberation [Against Napoleon], 1813.” Editorial Board Member Janice Eng comments that “it exemplifies the 3D nature of typical everyday spine movements: the subject is extending, laterally flexing or side-flexing, and rotating his spine simultaneously…. One shoulder is internally rotating, while the other is externally rotated.”