Artwork
Child Wearing a Red Scarf
Child Wearing a Red Scarf is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Édouard Vuillard. It dates from 1891 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:upper right with atelier stamp: E Vuillard
About this work
Technique & Style
The work is executed in oil paint on cardboard support, measuring 29.
The work is executed in oil paint on cardboard support, measuring 29.2 cm in height by 17.5 cm in width. Vuillard’s handling is characterized by fine, controlled brushwork that builds up thin, layered glazes to model the child’s features and the deep folds of the red scarf, which dominates the composition. The palette is subdued, relying on muted ochres, greens, and umbers, with the scarf rendered in a saturated, almost abstract red that flattens the space and emphasizes the decorative pattern.
Stylistically, the painting aligns with Vuillard’s intimiste phase, flattening spatial recession to focus attention on surface texture and pattern, while the child’s direct, frontal pose and simplified modeling contribute to a quietly monumental presence.
History & Provenance
The work titled Child Wearing a Red Scarf is an oil on cardboard painting by Édouard Vuillard, executed in 1891. It originated in Vuillard’s atelier before entering the collection of Captain Edward H. Molyneux in Paris, where it was documented by 1952; the piece was subsequently sold on 15 August 1955 to Ailsa Mellon Bruce in New York and later bequeathed to the National Gallery of Art in 1970. The painting’s creation is dated to 1891, and it is catalogued as a work depicting a girl with a scarf.
Its provenance reflects a clear chain of ownership from the artist’s studio to private collectors and finally to the museum.
The painting is part of the National Gallery of Art’s collection in Washington, D.C., having entered the museum by bequest in 1970 after being owned by Ailsa Mellon Bruce; its current inventory is recorded under the museum’s accession system, though the specific accession number is not detailed in the available records. It was first shown publicly as part of Capt. Edward H. Molyneux’s collection in 1952, an exhibition documented in museum correspondence. The work remains on view in the gallery’s permanent collection, reflecting its long‑term presence at the institution.
Overview
Child Wearing a Red Scarf is an oil on cardboard painting by Édouard Vuillard, created around 1891. This work exemplifies his early period as a member of Les Nabis, an avant-garde group. It portrays a young girl in an intimate domestic setting, a common theme in Vuillard's art.
The piece showcases his experimental approach to color and form, characteristic of his engagement with Symbolist and Japonist aesthetics during this time.
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents a young girl seated near a wall, her figure subtly integrated into the surrounding space. Her bright red scarf provides a striking focal point, drawing the viewer's eye despite the muted palette of the background. Vuillard often depicted such quiet, everyday moments, elevating the ordinary through his distinctive use of color and composition to highlight subtle details and emotional resonance within domestic life.
Context
This painting dates to a pivotal period in Vuillard's career, coinciding with his involvement with Les Nabis, a post-impressionist group active in Paris. The Nabis sought to integrate art into everyday life and emphasized decorative qualities, flat planes of color, and symbolic meaning. Vuillard, a French painter, decorative artist, and printmaker, later moved away from these avant-garde principles, adopting a more naturalistic style after the group dissolved around 1900.
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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.
- Luncheon (Annette and Her Grandmother)
The Conversation
Luncheon (Annette and Her Grandmother)
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Deux ouvrières dans l'atelier de couture [Two Seamstresses in the Workroom]
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Standing Figure, Blue Dress
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