Who painted Femme lisant?

Femme lisant was painted by Édouard Vuillard in 1909.

Where can I see Femme lisant?

Femme lisant is held by Fitzwilliam Museum.

Artwork

Femme lisant

Édouard Vuillard , 1909

Femme lisant is an unspecified painting by Édouard Vuillard. It dates from 1909 and is held in the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum.

About this work

Overview

The woman reclines on her side, her dark attire and hair contrasting with the surrounding foliage, while the overall tone remains restrained and contemplative.

Édouard Vuillard’s 1909 canvas *Femme lisant* presents a solitary figure immersed in a quiet moment of reading. The composition is dominated by muted greens, browns and greys, creating a subdued atmosphere that emphasizes the intimacy of the scene. The woman reclines on her side, her dark attire and hair contrasting with the surrounding foliage, while the overall tone remains restrained and contemplative.

Subject & Meaning

The work continues Vuillard’s long‑standing interest in domestic interiors, here translated into an outdoor setting where the act of reading becomes a private, almost meditative ritual. The figure’s absorbed posture and the gentle enclosure of tall green grasses suggest a personal sanctuary, inviting viewers to consider the quiet focus of everyday life.

Technique & Style

Executed with loose, expressive brushwork, the painting balances flattened color planes with subtle modeling of light and shadow. Vuillard’s palette of soft, earth‑toned hues reflects his shift from the decorative flatness of his Nabis period toward a more naturalistic approach, while still retaining a decorative sensibility reminiscent of Japanese woodcuts.

History & Provenance

Created after the dissolution of the Nabis group in 1900, *Femme lisant* marks a later stage in Vuillard’s career when he increasingly explored realistic subjects within his characteristic compositional framework. The painting entered private collections in the early twentieth century before being acquired by a public institution in the mid‑1970s, where it remains on display.