Interior c. 1892 - 1895

Édouard Vuillard, a French painter, rendered this scene with oil, likely in the late 19th or early 20th century. The image depicts a woman, perhaps a seamstress or domestic servant, working in a cluttered interior. Vuillard was associated with the Nabis, a group of Post-Impressionist avant-garde artists who were influenced by Japanese prints and emphasized decorative patterns and flat planes. This can be seen here in the flattening of space and the emphasis on the patterns of the wallpaper and fabrics. This image provides a glimpse into the domestic life of the French working class during a time of rapid social and economic change. The fashion for Japonisme also speaks to the rise of international trade and cultural exchange. Vuillard, like many of his contemporaries, was interested in capturing the everyday lives of ordinary people, though we must be aware of how class and social institutions frame such depictions. Understanding the social and cultural context in which this artwork was made requires us to delve into historical records, literature, and other cultural artifacts that shed light on the experiences of the working class in France during this period.