Lucy Hessel and Lulu in the Large Drawing-Room at Les Clayes c. 1935

Curator: Édouard Vuillard gifts us an intimate scene in his piece, "Lucy Hessel and Lulu in the Large Drawing-Room at Les Clayes," circa 1935. He employed pastels and perhaps some watercolor in this work, capturing a hushed moment. Editor: The immediate impression is of quiet domesticity. There's something deeply calming and settled about the colours, those ochres and muted greens. A sort of hazy tranquility. Curator: Absolutely. The drawing room itself becomes a character, doesn't it? Notice how Vuillard uses the patterns, those drapes like theatrical curtains, to enclose the figures, emphasizing that sense of safe interiority. It's a classic example of Intimism. Editor: Those repeating geometric patterns… the octagonal light fixtures, the rectangles in the furnishings. And then that pool table shoved rather nonchalantly into the space. The symbolism is rather intense and confusing; one feels at home but as an uninvited guest. Curator: It is an intriguing mix. Vuillard’s colour palette contributes immensely; a soft, almost dreamlike filter over the whole scene. Though, you see those pastel strokes? They bring a tactile quality to what could have been an overly sentimentalized vision of domesticity. A very personal take. Editor: The use of pastel really reinforces that feeling of transience and fragility. Think of pastel's historic use in portraiture, particularly for women; it carries with it suggestions of the fleeting nature of beauty. Perhaps here, it reflects the temporality of these domestic spaces, as both sanctuary and stage for performances. Curator: Precisely, he’s hinting at the stories held within that space, isn't he? All of these small personal dramas quietly unfolding and then, the pool table adding a jolt of life! It's the splash of colour against these very contained, gentle shades of domesticity. A subtle touch that adds layers of interest and emotion. Editor: These objects start to signify things more than they are, and, when juxtaposed as Vuillard renders it, create a space within our imaginations for the self and our histories. Curator: Well, after some quiet observation, one begins to recognize these simple places where ordinary moments spark extraordinary feelings and meaning. Editor: Precisely. It is less about grand narratives and more about the quiet language of home, history, and memory all whispering at once.