La vie devient précieuse, discrète
Medium
color lithograph on thin yellowish/cream wove paper
Dimensions
image: 27.1 × 40.5 cm (10 11/16 × 15 15/16 in.) sheet: 39.3 × 53.1 cm (15 1/2 × 20 7/8 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1943.3.3415
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
Maurice Denis, a leading member of the Nabi group and a pioneer of Symbolist art, created this evocative color lithograph between 1892 and 1899. Titled *La vie devient précieuse, discrète* (“Life becomes precious, discreet”), the print reflects the artist’s interest in spiritual themes and the quiet beauty of everyday existence. Published by the influential dealer Ambroise Vollard and expertly printed by Auguste Clot, it belongs to the vibrant wave of artistic lithography that flourished in France at the turn of the century. The delicate medium of color lithography on thin yellowish wove paper allowed Denis to achieve soft, luminous tones and flattened decorative patterns characteristic of his style. Measuring just over 10 by 16 inches in the image area, the work demonstrates how printmaking enabled artists to reach wider audiences while exploring intimate, poetic subjects. Now part of the Rosenwald Collection at the National Gallery of Art, this print captures the era’s fascination with refined technique and contemplative imagery, inviting viewers to appreciate life’s subtle, precious moments through Denis’s harmonious vision.