In the Red Room

Édouard Vuillard made "In the Red Room" with oil on cardboard. The painting is a process of layering and blurring, with a real tension between representation and abstraction, which to me is the sweet spot of art making. I’m drawn to how Vuillard handles the surface. It's not about showing off technical skill, but more about feeling the materiality of the paint itself. The way he uses reds and oranges gives off a sense of warmth. Look at the seated figure on the right. The brushwork is so loose it’s almost like he’s painting atmosphere rather than a person. Vuillard reminds me a bit of Bonnard, another painter who was interested in domestic scenes. Both of them show that painting isn’t just about capturing a likeness, but about creating a mood.