The Alarm 1895

Curator: Well, look at this little firecracker! I feel like it has secret messages. Editor: This is "The Alarm," a linocut by Félix Vallotton, created in 1895. It’s currently held here at The Art Institute of Chicago. A striking image dominated by stark contrasts, wouldn’t you agree? Curator: Dominating is right! It feels...uneasy. The solid blacks swallowing these... are they swans? Are they attacking? Or being attacked? Editor: Note the bold, flat areas of black and white. Vallotton masterfully employs simplification to create a compelling narrative. Notice the positioning of the swans – their arrangement guides our eyes. Curator: I think it’s funny. It seems as though the woman and onlookers are just trying to keep the circus show in order. Even the girl atop the barrels; it’s all absurd, especially since the viewer can imagine what has disturbed this strange, surreal setting. I think that that is the genius of Vallotton; he knew what society didn’t want to address so it’s here in linocut caricature form. Editor: The black background throws everything into relief; the formal composition and graphic qualities give it significant emotional weight. He deliberately avoids tonal gradations and this stylistic decision makes the narrative impact much greater. Curator: Almost aggressively so! It’s a wonderfully uncomfortable piece, even more so than a great deal of paintings. This work reminds me that art shouldn’t lull you to sleep, it should shake you awake! Editor: Agreed! It also shows Vallotton's clever use of a printmaker’s process to amplify themes present in modernist painting more generally. It offers a distinct contribution by turning familiar images into something memorable through abstract shapes.