Portrait of Theo van Rysselberghe c. 1898

Édouard Vuillard created this portrait of Theo van Rysselberghe using an etching technique. The subdued palette and intricate network of lines immediately draw you in. The subject's figure is constructed from a dense web of cross-hatching, which gives a sense of depth and texture to his coat. Vuillard's use of etching here is remarkable. The dense lines do more than just define the form; they destabilize it, creating a fluctuating sense of space. This technique aligns with the broader symbolist movement, where artists sought to explore inner, subjective experiences rather than objective reality. The etching's emphasis on lines and patterns serves to flatten the image, challenging traditional notions of perspective. By rejecting a clear distinction between foreground and background, Vuillard invites us to reconsider how we perceive space and form. This dissolution of boundaries aligns with poststructuralist ideas about the instability of meaning.