Artwork
The Hearth (L'atre)

The Hearth (L'atre) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Édouard Vuillard. It dates from 1899 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The Hearth (L'âtre) is a 1899 color lithograph on China paper by Édouard Vuillard, a key figure in the Les Nabis avant-garde group.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a warm, intimate interior scene centered around a glowing fireplace, with everyday objects like a teapot and fruit on the hearth. The composition emphasizes simplicity and cozy domesticity.
Technique & Style
Vuillard's lithograph features flat, muted colors and rough, sketchy forms, eschewing detailed textures and shading. This aesthetic reflects the influence of Japanese prints and the artist's interest in decorative composition and spatial effects achieved through pure color.
Context
The work is characteristic of Vuillard's Les Nabis period, during which he explored innovative uses of color and pattern in interior scenes.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jean-Édouard Vuillard (French: ; 11 November 1868 – 21 June 1940) was a French painter, decorative artist, and printmaker.



















