Book jacket for "Les Rassemblements"

Vallotton employed a photo‑relief process, translating photographic material into a printable matrix that allowed him to combine precise line work with a rough, sketch‑like texture. The result is a graphic image marked by bold contours, limited tonal variation, and a flattened pictorial space characteristic of his modern woodcut sensibility.

Created during Vallotton’s association with the Nabis, the cover reflects his shift toward a more restrained, realistic aesthetic in the 1890s. The original print was produced for the French publication *Les Rassemblements* and later entered museum collections as an example of early twentieth‑century experimental book design.

At the time, the Nabis were exploring new ways to integrate fine art with applied arts, and Vallotton’s work exemplifies this crossover. His involvement in both painting and printmaking positioned him to experiment with photographic processes, aligning with contemporary interests in mechanization and mass media.