Vuillard and the Photograph | the Jewish Museum

Edward Vuillard: The Intersection of Photography and Art

Early Fascination with Photography

• Edward Vuillard, like many painters of his time, was an enthusiastic photographer. His archive contained nearly 2,000 photographs that were never exhibited during his lifetime.

• Starting in the mid-1890s, photography became a new sketchbook for Vuillard, allowing him to capture both spontaneous moments and carefully staged scenes.

Personal Relationships and Artistic Influence

• Vuillard's work was deeply influenced by three significant muses: his mother Mia Naten, the wife of his friend and patron, and Lucy Hessel, the wife of his dealer.

• He often depicted intimate aspects of daily life in his art; he lived with his mother until her death in 1928. She served as a constant source of inspiration.

Experimentation with Intimacy

• In capturing family members like his niece Annette as a baby, Vuillard experimented with close-ups to evoke feelings of intimacy and nostalgia.

• His friendship with Taday Natanson and Misia Godska deepened in the late 1890s; they shared passions for music, drama, painting, and poetry.

Social Circles and Artistic Development

• The Natanson summer home became a hub for artistic collaboration where everyone had to be enamored with Misia.

• Vuillard staged friends in theatrical poses within their richly decorated domestic space—highlighting the interplay between personal relationships and artistic expression.

Transition to New Opportunities

• The closure of La Revue Blanche in 1903 marked an end but also opened new paths for Vuillard as he gained recognition from gallery owner Jos Hessel.

• After 1900, Vuillard developed a close relationship with Lucy Hessel who provided access to influential circles that enriched his subject matter for portraits.

Capturing Leisure Life

• Through photography at country estates alongside Lucy Hessel’s family, Vuillard explored themes of leisure which became prominent motifs in his artwork.

• He utilized varied viewpoints while photographing their lifestyle; this experimentation informed both texture and memory relevant to future paintings.