Figure 1.--This painting entitled "Jardins publics" (Public gardens) was painted in 1894. It must have been a Paris park, but I am not sure which one--perhaps the Luxembourg. Here we see two boys playing, one wears a beret and brown smock. Click on the image to see a girl playing in the park also dressed in a smock.

Édouard Vuillard had a long professional career. His work covered the fin-de-siècle of the 19th century and the first 4 decades of the 20th century. He was a prolific artist, completing over 230 works. He has been described as a "quintessentially Parisian artist". His work varied over time. Some artists have a style that immediatel jumps out at you. Vuillard works can very substsntially in appearance. Often there is a kind of daubed-on look wth big splashed of paint daubed on for effect. Many of his works also have a well lit, airy appearance. The collection as a whole provide a wonderful look at Paris before and after the turn-of-the 20th century with a number of images of children. His earlist rather formal academic studues gave way to the innovative Nabis paintings done during the the 1890s. These are the paintings for which he is best known and deal primarily with the avant-garde theatre. Less well known are his light-filled landscapes and several elegant portraits done late in life. We note his paintings uin parks and other outdoor scenes giving charming view of Parisain life. Children often figure in these scenes. The painting seen here entitled "Jardins publics" (Public gardens) was painted in 1894 (figuire 1). It must havre been a Oaris park, but I am not sure which one. Here we see two boys playing, one wears a yellow beret and brown smock. I am not sure how accurate the colors are, especially the yellow beret. Also notice his striped scarfe. The other boy wears a sailor blose with a back flap. Both boys wear knee pants. Click on the image to see a girl playing in the park also dressed in a smock. A Canadian reader writes, "I see Vuillard as similar to a comic strip like Hergé's "Tintin". It is not really modern art which began with Cubism (Picasso and Braque) . Vuillard is still figurative. There exists some 'tryptics' by Vuillard showing boys and girls playing in a park, probably the Luxembourg. These are important paintings and should be included in HBC. They show some of the period clothing very nicely."

Childhood

Jean-Édouard Vuillard father was a retired captain. He grew up at Cuiseaux (Saône-et-Loire) The family when he was about 10 years old moved to Paris (1878). They lived in realtively modest circumstances. His father died, increasing financial problems (1884)

Education

Jean-Édouard won a scholarship which allowed him to continue his education. At the Lycée Condorcet Vuillard met Ker Xavier Roussel who proved to be his brother-in- law). He also studied with Maurice Denis, musician Pierre Hermant, writer Pierre Véber and Lugné-Poë. There was some thought to persuing a career in the mikitary like his father. Roussel encouraged his artistic interests. He decided to pursue art and entered the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. There he met Pierre Bonnard.

Early Efforts

Vuillard left the Lycée Condorcet (1885). He and his close friend Ker Xavier Roussel worked at the studio of Diogène Maillart. There both Roussel and Vuillard began to lear the basics of art. Vuillard joined the Nabis and began exhibiting (1888). He shared a studio with other Nabis artists. He visited Venice and Florence to study the Italian masr=ters (1898). Next he went to London (1899) and there several additional trips.

Body of Work

Édouard Vuillard had a long professional career. His work covered the fin-de-siècle of the 19th century and the first 4 decades of the 20th century. He was a prolific artist, completing over 230 works. He has been described as a "quintessentially Parisian artist". His work varied over time.

Style

Some artists have a style that immediatel jumps out at you. Vuillard works can very substsntially in appearance. Often there is a kind of daubed-on look wth big splashed of paint daubed on for effect. Many of his works also have a well-lit, airy appearance. He played extensively with light and after the turn-of-the 20 century opened up his work to more light. A Canadian reader writes, "I see Vuillard as similar to a comic strip like Hergé's "Tintin". It is not really modern art which began with Cubism (Picasso and Braque) . Vuillard is still figurative."

Subjects

The collection as a whole provide a wonderful look at Paris before and after the turn-of-the 20th century with a number of images of children. His earlist rather formal academic studues gave way to the innovative Nabis paintings done during the the 1890s. These are the paintings for which he is best known and deal primarily with the avant-garde theatre. Less well known are his light-filled landscapes and several elegant portraits done late in life. There were several interesting subjects of special interest. These include his paintings in Paris parks and his portraits of aristocratic Parisian individuals. The park paibtings are particularly interesting because Vuillard shows them playing in the parks.

Created: July 18, 2003
Last updated: 1:58 AM 8/11/2008