Madame V. Sleeping c. 1892

Édouard Vuillard made this ink drawing, Madame V. Sleeping, with a muted palette, typical of the artist. Vuillard was a member of Les Nabis, a Post-Impressionist avant-garde circle that felt painting should synthesize personal interpretation with natural observation. They embraced Japonisme, symbolism, and decorative arts, elevating the domestic sphere to high art. In fin-de-siècle France, the rise of the bourgeoisie prompted artists to explore interiority, questioning social norms around gender and class. Vuillard's intimate portrayal of a sleeping woman challenges traditional art's objectification of women. He presents a private, unguarded moment, reflecting the era's shifting attitudes toward domestic life and the psychological depths of individuals. Art historians consult letters, diaries, and exhibition reviews to reconstruct the cultural context in which an artwork was made, revealing the complex interplay between art, society, and individual experience.