Artwork
Coucher de soleil. Villerville
Coucher de soleil. Villerville is an oil painting by Félix Vallotton. It dates from 1917 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich.
About this work
Overview
Félix Vallotton’s 1917 oil work titled Coucher de soleil. Villerville depicts a coastal scene at dusk. The canvas is dominated by a calm sea rendered in muted blues and purples, beneath a sun rendered in vivid yellow.
An orange sky spreads above, while a rocky shoreline with dark stones occupies the lower register, creating a quiet, balanced composition.
Subject & Meaning
The painting captures a moment of transition between day and night along the Normandy coast near Villerville. By focusing on the interplay of water, sky, and sun, Vallotton emphasizes the fleeting quality of light and the serene atmosphere of an unpopulated shoreline, inviting contemplation of nature’s subtle rhythms.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the work employs thin layers of translucent paint to achieve a luminous effect, a method akin to glazing. Vallotton’s palette is restrained, with complementary blues and oranges that enhance the sense of depth. The brushwork is smooth, allowing the surface to convey a polished, almost photographic clarity.
History & Provenance
Created during the final year of World War I, Coucher de soleil. Villerville entered the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich, where it remains on view. The museum acquired the piece as part of its early‑20th‑century European holdings, reflecting the institution’s interest in Swiss and French modernist painters.
Artist & collection
Artist
Félix Édouard Vallotton (French: ; December 28, 1865 – December 29, 1925) was a Swiss and French painter and printmaker associated with the group of artists known as Les Nabis.
