Artwork
Village au bord de la mer. Saint-Jacut
Village au bord de la mer. Saint-Jacut is an oil painting by the Les Nabis artist Édouard Vuillard. It dates from 1909 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich. Created in 1909, this oil painting portrays a quiet coastal settlement with modest houses nestled among foliage.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1909, this oil painting portrays a quiet coastal settlement with modest houses nestled among foliage. The composition is dominated by subdued earth tones, greens and blues that convey the muted atmosphere of a seaside village. The work belongs to the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich, where it is displayed among other early‑twentieth‑century French paintings.
Subject & Meaning
The scene captures a tranquil moment in a small fishing community, emphasizing the relationship between built structures and the surrounding landscape. By focusing on everyday architecture and natural surroundings, the artist invites contemplation of ordinary life by the sea, without overt narrative or symbolic embellishment.
Technique & Style
Executed with loose, expressive brushwork, the painting balances flat areas of colour with subtle modelling to suggest depth. The palette of browns, muted greens and soft blues creates a harmonious, atmospheric effect. Though once associated with the decorative flatness of Les Nabis, the artist here adopts a more naturalistic approach, integrating texture and tonal variation to render space.
History & Provenance
Édouard Vuillard, a French painter who transitioned from the avant‑garde group Les Nabis to a more realistic mode, produced this work during his mature period. After changing his style, he continued to explore domestic and landscape subjects. The painting entered the Kunsthaus Zürich’s holdings in the mid‑20th century and remains part of its permanent collection.
Context
The early 1900s saw French artists increasingly turning to regional scenes, reflecting a broader interest in everyday French life. Vuillard’s shift toward realism aligns with contemporaneous movements that favored direct observation over decorative abstraction, situating this work within the transitional phase of French modernism.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jean-Édouard Vuillard (French:; 11 November 1868 – 21 June 1940) was a French painter, decorative artist, and printmaker.
