Artwork
Dinnertime
Dinnertime is an oil painting by the Les Nabis artist Édouard Vuillard. It dates from 1895 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1895, Dinnertime is an oil painting by French artist Édouard Vuillard. The work depicts a modest interior illuminated by a single candle, where three figures, one seated and two standing, are gathered around a low table. The composition is quiet, emphasizing a moment of private interaction within a dimly lit domestic space.
Subject & Meaning
The scene presents a simple domestic ritual: a modest meal shared in a sparsely furnished room. The muted attire of the figures and the subdued lighting suggest intimacy and restraint, inviting viewers to contemplate everyday life rather than grand narratives. The candle’s glow highlights the quiet concentration of the participants, underscoring a sense of personal connection.
Technique & Style
Vuillard employs flat areas of saturated color and a compressed sense of space, echoing the decorative influence of Japanese woodcuts that informed the Nabis group. The painting’s surface is patterned with decorative motifs, such as the large framed picture on the wall and a column in the corner, while the limited palette and softened edges flatten the interior, reducing depth in favor of surface design.
History & Provenance
Dinnertime was produced during Vuillard’s involvement with Les Nabis, a collective of avant‑garde artists active in the 1890s who emphasized decorative composition over naturalistic representation. After the Nabis dissolved around 1900, Vuillard gradually turned toward more realistic depictions, making this work a representative example of his early, pattern‑focused period.
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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.
