Man and Woman beneath a Tree 1893

Édouard Vuillard made this painting of a couple in a verdant landscape with oil on canvas. Vuillard was deeply interested in the material properties of paint, using its viscosity to evoke the sensuousness of the scene, and applying it in ways that mirror the tactile qualities of everyday life. Look closely, and you can see how Vuillard built up layers of pigment, almost like wallpaper being applied to a wall, an effect that stems from his training as a stage painter. The brushwork, although seemingly casual, is actually carefully considered to capture the fleeting effects of light and shadow, conveying an intimate moment shared between two figures amidst the backdrop of nature. This emphasis on the material and the act of making invites us to consider the work involved in the production process, and encourages us to appreciate the skill and artistry involved in rendering such a commonplace scene into a compelling visual experience.