Artwork
La paresse (Laziness)
La paresse (Laziness) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Félix Vallotton. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1896, *La paresse* is a woodcut print on cream‑wove paper by Félix Vallotton, a Swiss‑French artist linked to the post‑Impressionist group Les Nabis.
Created in 1896, *La paresse* is a woodcut print on cream‑wove paper by Félix Vallotton, a Swiss‑French artist linked to the post‑Impressionist group Les Nabis. The image presents a solitary nude woman lying on her side, her head supported by an arm, surrounded by a patterned textile and a few scattered flowers. The composition is rendered in stark, flat tonal areas that emphasize the figure’s stillness.
Subject & Meaning
The title, translating to “Laziness,” suggests a contemplation of idle repose rather than a narrative scene. The reclining pose, the relaxed expression, and the minimal surrounding detail convey a quiet, introspective moment, inviting viewers to consider the aesthetic of leisure and the bodily presence of the nude within a simple, domestic setting.
Technique & Style
Vallotton employed traditional woodcut methods, carving the design into a single block and printing it with black ink on a light‑colored paper. The resulting lines are crisp, and the image relies on broad, unmodulated shapes rather than gradated shading, reflecting the artist’s preference for a restrained, realistic yet stylized approach that was characteristic of his work with Les Nabis.
History & Provenance
The print emerged during Vallotton’s most productive period with Les Nabis, when he was refining a simplified visual language that would later earn him international attention. While the original block and early editions remain in private and institutional collections, the work continues to be cited as an example of late‑19th‑century French printmaking innovation.
Artist & collection
Artist
Félix Édouard Vallotton (French: ; December 28, 1865 – December 29, 1925) was a Swiss and French painter and printmaker associated with the group of artists known as Les Nabis.
