Artwork

Interior with Pink Wallpaper II (Interieur aux tentures roses II)

Interior with Pink Wallpaper II (Interieur aux tentures roses II) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Ambroise Vollard. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Ambroise Vollard’s Interior with Pink Wallpaper II is a color lithograph executed on China paper around 1896. The work presents a domestic interior rendered in flat, unmodulated hues, emphasizing the graphic qualities of the medium rather than realistic modeling.

Subject & Meaning

The composition depicts a room divided by bold color fields: a red‑toned wall on the left and a juxtaposition of yellow and blue on the right. A solitary figure stands near a doorway, their features indistinct, suggesting anonymity or a focus on spatial arrangement over narrative detail.

Technique & Style

Created through the lithographic process, Vollard employed thick, dark outlines to define walls, furniture, and architectural elements. The application of flat, saturated pigments without shading gives the image a design‑like, almost unfinished appearance, highlighting the medium’s capacity for graphic abstraction.

History & Provenance

The print was produced in the late nineteenth century, a period when Vollard was active as both dealer and artist. It is catalogued as part of his series exploring interior scenes, though specific ownership records beyond its initial publication remain limited.

Context

During the 1890s, French printmakers experimented with color lithography as a means of reaching broader audiences. Vollard’s work reflects this trend, merging decorative interior motifs with a modernist simplification of form that anticipates later avant‑garde tendencies.