Femme en rouge c. 1890 - 1891

Édouard Vuillard created this pastel drawing, “Femme en rouge,” sometime around the turn of the 20th century in France. It depicts a woman in a vibrant red dress, her back to us, gazing out a window. Vuillard was associated with the Nabis, a group of Post-Impressionist artists who believed that art should express subjective emotions and experiences, rather than simply imitating nature. We can see this in the flattened perspective and the emphasis on color and pattern over realistic representation. Vuillard’s work often captured intimate, domestic scenes. “Femme en rouge” may offer a glimpse into the private world of the French bourgeoisie during this period, a world of comfortable interiors and quiet contemplation. Yet, we might also wonder if the woman’s gaze out the window suggests a yearning for something beyond her immediate surroundings. To better understand Vuillard’s art, we can look to sources such as period literature, social histories, and exhibition reviews. Only then can we understand how it both reflected and shaped the cultural values of its time.