Meules c. 1890

Édouard Vuillard made "Meules" using pastel on paper. Notice how Vuillard coaxes out the texture of the paper, allowing it to peek through the layers of pastel, creating a grainy, almost fabric-like surface. You can almost feel the roughness of the paper beneath your fingertips, and the soft, powdery quality of the pastel itself. The marks are quickly applied, yet this medium – beloved by Edgar Degas and other artists who sought a direct means of expression – allowed Vuillard to achieve a remarkable subtlety. The seemingly simple composition, with its haystacks rendered in muted tones, invites us to consider the labor involved in agriculture, the rhythms of rural life, and the deep connection between humans and the land. In this sense, Vuillard elevates the humble pastel sketch to a statement about the value of everyday work and its rightful place in the realm of art. By exploring the intrinsic qualities of his materials and processes, Vuillard bridges the gap between fine art and the craft of living.