Les Rassemblements

Art Historical Context

**Les Rassemblements (The Gatherings)**, published in 1896, is a captivating bound volume edited by the French writer Octave Uzanne and by Félix Vallotton, a prominent Swiss-born artist associated with the Nabi movement. This intimate book, measuring just 23.4 x 17.3 cm, thirty innovative photo-relief illustrations that depict bustling urban crowds and social assemblies in fin-de-siècle Paris.anne, known for his essays on modern life and technology, paired Vallotton's sharp observational skills with cutting-edge printing to evoke the energy of public gatherings—from street markets to promenades. Vallotton's contributions shine through his precise, almost cinematic style, influenced by Japanese woodcuts and the Nabis' emphasis on pattern and symbolism. The photo-relief technique, a photomechanical process that translated photographic images into relief plates for printing, was revolutionary for its time. It allowed for detailed, reproducible illustrations that blended photography's realism with the affordability of mass-produced books, bridging art and industry during a period of rapid urbanization and technological change. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's Virginia and Ira Jackson Collection, *Les Rassemblements* offers a window into late 19th-century French society, celebrating the anonymous poetry of everyday crowds. It's a testament to how artists like Vallotton adapted to new media, making high art accessible to a wider audience.