Artwork
André Bénac

André Bénac is an oil painting by the Les Nabis artist Édouard Vuillard. It dates from 1936 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Created by Édouard Vuillard in 1936, the painting functions as a portrait that captures the subject's presence through the artist's distinctive style.
The work portrays the figure of André Bénac, serving as a direct representation of this specific individual. Created by Édouard Vuillard in 1936, the painting functions as a portrait that captures the subject's presence through the artist's distinctive style. The piece is executed in oil on canvas and measures 124 cm in height by 96.8 cm in width.
While the source material confirms the identity of the sitter, it does not provide further details regarding specific symbolic elements, hidden iconography, or a deeper allegorical meaning beyond the depiction of Bénac himself.
Technique & Style
The artwork titled André Bénac is an oil painting executed on canvas. It was produced in France in 1936 and measures 124.0 cm in height by 96.8 cm in width.
Vuillard is credited as the creator, and the piece is categorized as a painting within the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection. The composition portrays the sitter André Bénac, rendered in the medium of oil paint on canvas, reflecting the artist’s approach to portraiture during that period.
History & Provenance
The portrait André Bénac was painted by Édouard Vuillard in 1936 in France. The work entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art in 1981 as accession number 1981.63. No record of a commissioned origin or earlier ownership chain is provided in the cited sources.
Édouard Vuillard's 1936 oil painting, André Bénac, is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland, Ohio. The work was accessioned into the museum's holdings in 1981 under the inventory number 1981.63. The painting depicts the subject André Bénac and was created in France using oil on canvas.
No specific exhibition history is recorded in the provided sources for this artwork.
Overview
Édouard Vuillard, a French painter, created "André Bénac" in 1936 using oil paint. This portrait depicts the individual André Bénac within an intimate, domestic setting. The artwork represents a mature phase in Vuillard's career, following his earlier association with the avant-garde group Les Nabis.
The painting is currently held in the collection of The Cleveland Museum of Art, showcasing the artist's refined approach to portraiture and interior scenes.
Context
Édouard Vuillard was initially a key figure in Les Nabis, an avant-garde group of French artists active from 1891 to 1900. This collective was recognized for its innovative use of pure color and exploration of flattened spatial effects, often inspired by Japanese prints. After the Nabis group dissolved in 1900, Vuillard's artistic trajectory shifted.
By the time he painted "André Bénac" in 1936, his work demonstrated a move towards a more traditional realism, focusing on detailed observation.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jean-Édouard Vuillard (French:; 11 November 1868 – 21 June 1940) was a French painter, decorative artist, and printmaker.


















