Artwork
The Square
The Square is an ink drawing by Édouard Vuillard. It dates from 1910 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The Square is a 1910 drawing by French artist Édouard Vuillard, executed in brush and black ink on thin brown wove paper, later mounted on cream paper.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing captures a serene urban scene, focusing on a public square with trees, a curved path, a building featuring a balcony with potted plants, and a sparse scattering of seated figures. The composition conveys a sense of quiet, everyday life.
Technique & Style
Vuillard employs quick, loose brushstrokes and small ink marks to suggest textures and shadows, such as the ground's scattered pattern (resembling leaves or rain) and the simple, gestural rendering of the figures. This approach imbues the work with a spontaneous, sketch-like quality.
History & Provenance
Created after Vuillard's association with the avant-garde group Les Nabis (1891-1900), The Square reflects his subsequent shift towards greater realism, departing from the Nabis' emphasis on pure color and flattened compositions.
Context
Following his time with Les Nabis, Vuillard's work, as exemplified by The Square, began to incorporate more representational elements, situating this piece within his transitional period towards a more realistic aesthetic.
Legacy
The Square demonstrates Vuillard's exploration of capturing everyday urban life through simplified, expressive forms, contributing to the broader early 20th-century European movement towards observational, realistic depictions of modern cityscapes.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Jean-Édouard Vuillard (French: ; 11 November 1868 – 21 June 1940) was a French painter, decorative artist, and printmaker.
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