Portret van Edouard Vuillard

About this artwork

Aankoop uit het F.G. Waller-Fonds

Art Historical Context

Odilon Redon created this lithographic portrait of fellow artist Édouard Vuillard in 1900, capturing a quiet moment of artistic camaraderie at the turn of the twentieth century. Redon, renowned for his dreamlike symbolist imagery, demonstrates his mastery of lithography here through delicate tonal gradations and subtle line work that bring a sense of intimacy and psychological depth to the subject. Vuillard, a leading member of the Nabis group known for his evocative domestic scenes, is depicted with a thoughtful expression that hints at the shared artistic circles of fin-de-siècle Paris. Lithography, with its capacity for rich textures and fluid forms, allowed Redon to explore both realism and suggestion in portraiture during this later phase of his career. Measuring just 233 by 200 millimeters, the print exemplifies Redon’s ability to convey presence within a modest format. Acquired through the F.G. Waller Fund, the work preserves a personal connection between two influential figures in modern art.

About the Artist

Odilon Redon · 1840–1916

Odilon Redon (1840-1916) was a French Symbolist painter, printmaker, and pastellist whose visionary art bridged the 19th-century Symbolist movement and 20th-century Surrealism. Born Bertrand Redon in Bordeaux on April 20, 1840, he earned the nickname "Odilon" from his mother Odile. His father, who made his fortune in the Louisiana slave trade, conceived Odilon in New Orleans before the family retu...