A Somber Dress 1907

Édouard Vuillard likely painted this oil on cardboard work, titled *A Somber Dress*, in France sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. Vuillard was associated with the Nabis, a group of Post-Impressionist avant-garde artists who blurred the lines between painting and decoration, challenging the traditional hierarchy of genres. Here, the figure’s dark, shapeless dress blends almost seamlessly into the patterned background, flattening the space and questioning traditional notions of representation. Vuillard’s interior scenes often depict women engaged in domestic activities. During the 19th century, the domestic sphere was constructed as separate from the male space of politics, trade and public life. The image is both intimate and claustrophobic, perhaps alluding to the restrictions placed on women in French society. To delve deeper into Vuillard's world, we can consult period literature, domestic advice manuals, and exhibition reviews. These sources help us to understand the artistic and social context in which the image was made.