My Grandmother 1892

Édouard Vuillard painted “My Grandmother” with oil on cardboard, capturing a scene where domesticity and memory intertwine. The window is especially striking here, a portal that transcends mere decoration. It symbolizes insight, where the mundane act of looking outside suggests deeper introspection. Windows have long appeared across centuries, consider Renaissance paintings, offering a glimpse into the soul's inner sanctum. Vuillard seems to employ it as a beacon that casts its gaze both inward and outward, connecting the intimate scene with the vast world outside. The dots and colors merge, revealing the psychological complexity of human memory; just like the figures in a dream, or figures in a fresco, they may appear distorted but hold the essence of recollection. The recurring presence of windows reminds us of our yearning to understand not only what lies beyond but also the depths within.