Coin De Cheminee À Les Clayes c. 1932 - 1935

Édouard Vuillard made this painting of a corner of a fireplace using pastel, but I have no idea when. It’s all about gentle observation and process with Vuillard, where the colours and forms are built up through delicate marks. The surface has this gorgeous, soft texture, achieved with these subtle, almost whispered strokes of pastel. Vuillard's choice of colours – muted yellows, pinks, and blues – creates a dreamlike, intimate atmosphere. The way the light seems to filter through the scene, softening the edges of objects, makes you feel like you’re glimpsing a private, quiet moment. Look how the mantelpiece blends into the wall behind, the objects barely there. Vuillard reminds me a little of Bonnard, with their shared interest in domestic interiors. Like Bonnard, he's less concerned with clarity and more with the overall mood, evoking a sense of reverie. The beauty of art lies in its ability to suggest, to hint, rather than to declare.