Tulips and Statuettes 1919

Édouard Vuillard made 'Tulips and Statuettes' with oil on canvas, sometime in the early 20th century. The earthy palette and soft, hazy atmosphere is so very Vuillard, creating a sense of intimacy and quiet contemplation. Up close, the paint handling is so delicious, the surface is built up with layers of subtle tones. I can almost feel the give and take of the brushstrokes as he worked, a dance between observation and invention. The statuettes emerge from the shadows, their forms softened and blurred. Then the dash of red in the tulips, they sit in contrast to the muted tones of the sculptures. Vuillard invites us to consider the relationships between the objects, their textures, and their presence in the space. There's a closeness to Pierre Bonnard in Vuillard's work, a shared interest in the intimate and domestic, and a similar commitment to exploring the possibilities of paint. Both invite us into a world of quiet beauty. Neither are explicit but rather suggest an experience through colour and form.