Portrait D’Irène Montanet c. 1927

Édouard Vuillard made this portrait of Irène Montanet with pastel. Look at how Vuillard builds up his images in layers, a bit like Bonnard. The hatched marks create this incredible atmosphere, like a memory trying to come into focus. The surface is alive with touches of powdery color, particularly in the face, where pale pinks and yellows give her a subtle glow. I love the almost acidic green of her dress, it feels so modern against the muted background. It’s like he's not just showing us what she looks like, but also how he sees her, this kind of ghostly presence emerging from the shadows. The way the pastel is applied, in these short, broken strokes, reminds me a bit of Seurat's pointillism, but with a much more intimate, personal feel. It's like Vuillard is whispering secrets to us through the marks on the page. This piece really embodies the idea that art is an ongoing conversation, a way of seeing and feeling that's constantly evolving.