“Portrait of Madame Marie des Jardins Fontaine” is an oil-on-canvas painting created by Edouard Vuillard in 1901. As an exemplification of the Intimism art movement, the portrait measures 61.7 x 49.8 cm and belongs to the genre of portraiture. Currently held within a private collection, the artwork captures the essence of intimacy and domesticity for which Vuillard is renowned.
The artwork depicts a woman, Madame Marie des Jardins Fontaine, standing in an interior setting. The background is characterized by a meticulous yet delicate amalgamation of colors and loose brushstrokes that emphasize the domestic and intimate atmosphere of the setting. Madame Fontaine is dressed in a dark gown, and she appears to be softly illuminated, highlighting her presence amidst the muted, earthy tones of the room. The presence of various objects and decorative elements in the background, rendered in a somewhat amorphous style, imbues the scene with a sense of lived-in warmth and personal history. Vuillard’s technique of blending the subject with her surroundings encapsulates the principles of the Intimism movement, focusing on the private and gentle moments of everyday life.
