Interior 1902

Édouard Vuillard made this oil on canvas, Interior, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. Vuillard's colors are so close in value, they blend and merge into a symphony of pattern. It’s a painting about painting. The surface is matte, and the brushstrokes blend a bit, softening the edges. Look at the way the wallpaper seems to flatten the space, pushing forward. Vuillard flattens the figures too, so they blend in with the wallpaper, becoming part of the overall design. My eye is drawn to the open window, which offers a view to the outside world. It’s a break in the pattern, a breath of fresh air. Like Bonnard, he was interested in how paint could create a sense of intimacy and domesticity. And like them, Vuillard reminds us that art isn’t about representing the world as it is, but about creating a new way of seeing.