The Balcony At The Closerie Des Genêts, Vaucresson c. 1920

Édouard Vuillard made The Balcony At The Closerie Des Genêts, Vaucresson with pastel, and it's so process-oriented, you can practically feel him smudging the colors around with his fingers! The texture is chalky, with layers of soft hues, and the brown paper peeks through, creating a warm, earthy atmosphere. Check out the yellow highlights on the balcony railing and how they add depth and luminosity to the scene. I see the marks, and the gestures of the making are right there on the surface. It's not concealed; it's revealed. Vuillard reminds me of Bonnard, they were both interested in the quiet intimacy of everyday life, but Vuillard's work has this edgy, almost unsettling quality. It feels like a conversation, and the beauty of art is that it invites endless interpretations, without any single right answer.