Dressmaker (La Couturière)

Édouard Vuillard

1894

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century Interior

About this work

This image shows a dim room with a woman hunched over a sewing machine. The light is soft, and the colors are mostly blues, yellows, and whites. A window with curtains lets in a little light, and a door is visible on the left side. The painting uses loose, sketchy lines and flat colors, giving it a quiet, everyday feel. The artist focused on the scene’s mood rather than sharp details. If you like this style, look up lithography to see how it works.