Twee vrouwen en man in verlicht interieur 1893 - 1897

Curator: Ah, this Vuillard piece. Something about it feels so…insidery. Almost like we’re peeking through a keyhole. Editor: I see a drawing of “Twee vrouwen en man in verlicht interieur”—Two Women and a Man in a Lit Interior—likely made between 1893 and 1897. Given the use of intaglio— that is, ink on paper-- and its obvious tonal variety, it has to be a print. The stark use of lithographic material seems to drive Vuillard's aesthetic decisions about tone and theme. It emphasizes both light and social themes. Curator: Keyhole is right, though! Did the family have any inkling that Monsieur Vuillard was observing them? It definitely has that captured, intimate feeling. The women look like they are wrapped up in a moment. And the man looms as he waits for some kind of engagement or interaction... Editor: It's not just an observation though, is it? The materials here, the deliberate choice of printmaking… it’s about the reproducible image, the democratization of art, if you will. Intaglio, requiring specialized workshops and materials, also suggests a conscious engagement with craft, breaking from the rigid hierarchy of art forms. How is that interior lit and what fueled that fire or electricity? Are these bourgeois sitters engaging in consumption of goods at the cost of working class? Curator: Interesting point! This wasn’t just about depicting the domestic space but playing with the power dynamic. I like that angle! And, looking at the overall feeling-- it strikes me as a tableau of unease, too, even anxiety! Editor: The texture! He really goes after the interior trappings, the busyness of pattern and the materiality. It begs questions about the cost and availability of production materials available to the impressionists for use. And Vuillard uses a limited pallette--maybe related to availability, the market, his position... Curator: So, a space both beautiful and oppressive in a way? Trapped in materiality--that has a certain melancholic charm, almost... Editor: Exactly. A look behind the scenes in life, made possible because of those everyday goods. A social commentary through line and ink. Curator: Makes you rethink those domestic moments now, doesn't it? It is a little unsettling in the end!