Artwork
At Table
At Table is an oil painting by Édouard Vuillard. It dates from 1897 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1897, this oil painting by French artist Édouard Vuillard captures a quiet domestic scene. A modest interior is illuminated by daylight from a rear window, revealing a table set for two with a vase of red flowers, a plate and a glass. The composition feels spontaneous, with portions of wall and floor left unfinished, emphasizing the immediacy of the moment.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a man engaged in drinking, suggesting a private, perhaps intimate, encounter. The arrangement of objects and the subdued lighting convey a sense of everyday routine rather than a staged tableau, inviting viewers to contemplate the ordinary rituals of domestic life.
Technique & Style
Vuillard employs flattened areas of color and patterned surfaces, echoing the influence of Japanese woodcuts that characterized his work with the Nabis. Thick, impasto brushstrokes give the paint a tactile quality, while the deliberately unfinished sections of wall and floor create a sketch‑like effect, reinforcing the work’s immediacy.
History & Provenance
The painting was produced while Vuillard was an active member of the avant‑garde group Les Nabis, a collective active from 1891 to 1900. After the group dissolved, Vuillard gradually moved toward a more naturalistic approach. The work entered the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains on display.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jean-Édouard Vuillard (French: ; 11 November 1868 – 21 June 1940) was a French painter, decorative artist, and printmaker.
