Artwork
Woman Painting a Vase

Woman Painting a Vase is an unspecified painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Pierre Laprade. It dates from 1920 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work shows a solitary female figure seated before a vase, captured in the act of painting its surface; a chair is also present in the composition.
The work shows a solitary female figure seated before a vase, captured in the act of painting its surface; a chair is also present in the composition. According to the catalog entry, the painting was executed in 1920 by Pierre Laprade and is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The depiction of a woman engaged in artistic creation, surrounded by simple household objects, underscores themes of domesticity and the creative process characteristic of early modern French genre scenes.
The inclusion of a vase and chair functions as symbolic props that highlight the intimate studio setting and the artist’s focus on everyday ritual.
History & Provenance
Pierre Laprade painted Woman Painting a Vase in 1920, as recorded in the work’s catalog entry and confirmed by its inclusion in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection. The painting entered the museum’s holdings shortly after its creation, though the exact acquisition date is not documented; no evidence of a specific commission or patron is available. Its provenance is therefore limited to museum acquisition, with the work remaining in the Met’s collection to the present. The dating is firmly established at 1920, reflecting the artist’s activity in the early 1920s.
Woman Painting a Vase by Pierre Laprade is held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, with the accession number 51.30.1. The painting entered the museum’s collection in 1951, as documented in the institution’s holdings. It has not been included in major public exhibitions according to available records.
Overview
Pierre Laprade's painting, Woman Painting a Vase, created in 1920, is an intimate interior scene. Currently housed at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the work portrays a woman absorbed in the act of artistic creation. She is depicted seated in a chair, diligently applying paint to a vase placed before her, capturing a moment of quiet focus within a softly lit domestic space.
Technique & Style
Laprade employs a subtle approach to light and shadow, rendering the room in a dim illumination that creates soft, enveloping shadows on the walls. This subdued atmosphere enhances the painting's quiet mood. The artist's gentle brushwork further emphasizes the woman's delicate movements and her absorption in the creative process, contributing to the overall sense of tranquility and introspection within the composition.
Context
Pierre Laprade frequently explored interior scenes throughout his career, often depicting figures engaged in domestic or artistic pursuits. Woman Painting a Vase exemplifies this recurring interest, offering a glimpse into a private moment of artistic endeavor. The painting aligns with his broader body of work, which often emphasized quiet contemplation and the subtle beauty found within everyday environments and personal spaces.
Artist & collection


















