The Cook, plate eleven from Landscapes and Interiors

Bright colors and dense patterns provide an intimate glimpse into the artist’s home while figures absorbed in their daily activities suggest an air of distance and mystery. Édouard Vuillard is best known today for his depictions of Parisian interiors, often populated by his friends and family. At the time Landscapes and Interiors was published, however, collectors were not eager to purchase the series, perhaps due to its personal and private subject matter; 20 years after it was produced, the influential art dealer Ambroise Vollard had not yet sold the edition of 100.