Five O'Clock, plate seven from Intimacies 1898

Félix Vallotton created this woodcut titled 'Five O'Clock, plate seven from Intimacies' with stark contrasts of black and white. The composition is structured around a tension between light and shadow, with the whiteness of the bedsheets and the man’s figure sharply outlined against the dark, enveloping background. This visual dichotomy might evoke a feeling of unease, reflecting the psychological drama unfolding. Vallotton uses the woodcut medium to reduce the scene to its most essential forms, emphasizing lines and shapes. This simplification, typical of the Nabis' interest in Japanese prints, serves not just an aesthetic purpose but also intensifies the emotional impact. Semiotically, the lack of intermediate tones reinforces a sense of conflict, possibly alluding to hidden meanings or unspoken tensions within intimate relationships. The strategic use of negative space, particularly around the figures, creates a sense of isolation and detachment. This formal quality underscores the artist’s broader commentary on modern life, where the interplay of visibility and concealment shapes our understanding of human relations.