Under the Trees 1894

Édouard Vuillard likely created this oil painting, "Under the Trees," around the turn of the 20th century. As we consider this piece, it's helpful to look at the social and cultural context of France at the time, a period marked by significant social change and artistic experimentation. Vuillard, associated with the Nabis, was part of a group that questioned academic art and sought to integrate art into everyday life. This painting evokes a sense of leisure and contemplation, reflecting the values of the bourgeoisie. The figures in the park suggest a moment of respite from the increasingly industrialized and urbanized world. But is this park a public space? Or a private garden? To understand this work more fully, we might turn to sociological studies of leisure and recreation in late 19th-century France, as well as institutional histories of art patronage during the period. By doing so, we can appreciate how Vuillard's work not only reflects his time but also subtly critiques the social structures that shaped it.