Li Tobler

Li Tobler (1880 – 1963) was a Swiss painter and dancer associated with the Dada movement in Zurich. She is perhaps best known for her relationship with the Swiss artist Ferdinand Hodler, serving as one of his models and inspiring a significant body of his work in his later years.

Tobler initially trained as a teacher before pursuing dance and acting. She joined the Laban School of dance in Zurich. Her artistic pursuits led her to become involved in the Zurich art scene, where she met Hodler in 1908. Their relationship, though not without its complexities and challenges due to the age difference and Hodler's existing family, proved to be a mutually influential one.

While Tobler's own artistic output, primarily paintings, is not as widely recognized as Hodler's, she continued to paint throughout her life. Her work often depicted landscapes and portraits. Her contributions to the cultural landscape of Zurich during the early 20th century extended beyond her individual artworks, encompassing her role as a muse and participant in the vibrant Dada scene.