Who painted Le Déjeuner?

Le Déjeuner was painted by Édouard Vuillard in 1898.

Where can I see Le Déjeuner?

Le Déjeuner is held by Ashmolean Museum.

What movement is Le Déjeuner?

Le Déjeuner is associated with Post-Impressionism.

Artwork

Le Déjeuner

Édouard Vuillard , 1898

Le Déjeuner is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Édouard Vuillard. It dates from 1898 and is held in the collection of the Ashmolean Museum.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1898, *Le Déjeuner* is an oil painting by French artist Édouard Vuillard. The work presents a domestic interior dominated by a deep red background, where an elderly woman in a red dress holds a white cloth while seated before a modestly set table. The composition conveys a quiet, intimate moment within a private space.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure is an older woman, her face indistinct, suggesting a universal rather than personal portrayal. She is positioned near a table covered with a white linen and a chair featuring blue‑white stripes, evoking a simple, everyday meal scene. The muted atmosphere and softened features emphasize a sense of calm domesticity and subtle emotional resonance.

Technique & Style

Vuillard employs flat areas of pure color, a hallmark of the Nabis group, arranging them to flatten spatial depth. Influences from Japanese woodblock prints appear in the decorative patterning and simplified forms. Brushwork is gentle, with delicate gradations that soften edges, creating a harmonious balance between decorative surface and representational content.

History & Provenance

The painting was produced during Vuillard’s active period with Les Nabis, an avant‑garde collective active from 1891 to 1900. After changing hands through private collections, *Le Déjeuner* entered the holdings of the Ashmolean Museum, where it remains accessible to the public as part of the museum’s European art collection.