Artwork
La Réussite
La Réussite is an oil painting by the Cubism Synthetic artist Félix Vallotton. It dates from 1912 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich.
About this work
Overview
Félix Vallotton’s 1912 oil painting titled La Réussite is part of the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich. The work presents a solitary nude woman seated on a floor, her posture bent forward as she engages with a card game. The composition is framed by a dark, muted backdrop that isolates the figure and the spread of cards on a small red circular table.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a nude woman, her skin rendered with careful attention to light and shadow, suggesting a moment of private concentration. She leans over a set of four playing cards, implying a contemplative pause in a game. The quiet atmosphere invites viewers to consider themes of leisure, introspection, and the intimate act of solitary play.
Technique & Style
Vallotton employs a naturalistic approach to the human form, using chiaroscuro to model the body’s volume against the somber background. The contrast between the luminous skin tones and the dark surroundings heightens the sense of depth. The red circular table provides a focal point, its vivid hue breaking the overall tonal restraint.
History & Provenance
Created in 1912, La Réussite entered the holdings of the Kunsthaus Zürich, where it remains on display. The painting reflects Vallotton’s mature period, during which he explored intimate interior scenes and the interplay of light and shadow in oil.
Context
The work belongs to the early twentieth‑century Swiss art scene, a time when Vallotton was associated with the Nabis and later shifted toward more realistic depictions of everyday moments. La Réussite exemplifies his interest in quiet domestic subjects, contrasting with the more decorative tendencies of his earlier group.
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.
