Théodore Duret 1912

Édouard Vuillard painted this portrait of Théodore Duret using oil on canvas, likely in 1912. Vuillard applied the paint in a textured manner, using visible brushstrokes and a relatively thick impasto. Looking at the abundance of papers, books, and other objects that surround Duret, you can see how Vuillard’s technique emphasizes the materiality and the tactile qualities of everyday life. The piles of documents evoke the labor involved in Duret's intellectual pursuits. The painting, then, is not just a depiction of a man, but also a representation of the world of work and consumption that defined him. The medium is the message: oil paint allowed for the layering and blending of colors, mirroring the complexity of modern life. The painting shows us how paying attention to materials, techniques, and social context can help us to understand the rich meaning of an artwork, and to challenge traditional hierarchies between fine art and the everyday.