Painting of a tennis court Castle Guernon Ranville 1907

Édouard Vuillard made this painting of a tennis court at Castle Guernon Ranville sometime in the early 20th century. Vuillard's colours are muted, like memories fading in the sun, and the brushwork is quick and loose. It gives me the impression that he worked fast and intuitively. Look at the way the light catches the woman's dress. It's all broken up into flecks of white and cream. The paint is applied so thinly in some areas you can see the canvas texture underneath. Yet, in other places, like the man’s dark coat, there are thicker blobs of paint. The contrast gives the painting a real sense of depth and movement. You can almost feel the heat of the sun on the court. Vuillard reminds me a little of Bonnard, another painter obsessed with the intimate details of everyday life. Both artists show us that painting doesn't have to be about grand statements, it can also be about capturing the quiet moments that make up a life.