Artwork
The Potato Peeler
The Potato Peeler is a print by the Impressionist artist Ker-Xavier Roussel. It dates from 1893 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
The Potato Peeler is a lithograph by Ker-Xavier Roussel, depicting a serene domestic scene of a woman intently peeling a potato, characterized by stark contrasts of light and dark, and a focus on everyday life.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, possibly Roussel's newly wedded wife Marie, is portrayed in solitary absorption, emphasizing the quiet intimacy of a mundane task, and the deliberate isolation from the outside world.
Technique & Style
Executed in Roussel's Nabi style, the print features simplified forms, bold color application, and flat, contrasting tones, reflecting the group's emphasis on capturing contemporary Parisian life through modernist aesthetics.
History & Provenance
Created in the year of Roussel's marriage to Marie (sister of Édouard Vuillard), the work's context suggests a personal, possibly biographical, undertone to its depiction of domestic solitude.
Context
Part of a broader early 20th-century artistic movement, this piece aligns with the Nabi group's fascination with both public and private Parisian scenes, often highlighting the ordinary and the intimate.
Artist & collection
