Two Girls in Chemises (Deux fillettes en chemise)

Executed as a traditional woodcut, the image employs bold, clean cuts that produce flat areas of black and white. Vallotton’s approach departs from the intricate line work of earlier prints, favoring broad tonal fields that echo the influence of early Renaissance portraiture while aligning with the simplified aesthetics of the Nabis circle.

Vallotton, a Swiss‑French artist linked to the Nabis group, was recognized for advancing modern woodcut practice in the late 19th century. This 1893 print reflects his transition from the precise realism of his early training toward the more pared‑down visual language he embraced during his Nabis period.

The work emerges at a time when printmakers were exploring the expressive potential of limited media. Within the broader movement toward abstraction and decorative simplicity, Vallotton’s print illustrates how traditional techniques could be adapted to contemporary aesthetic concerns.