The artwork titled “The Artist’s Parents,” created by Felix Vallotton in 1886, is an oil painting on canvas within the Realism art movement. This portrait is housed at the Musée Cantonal des Beaux-Arts in Lausanne, Switzerland.
In the artwork, Vallotton meticulously captures the likenesses of his parents, who are the subjects of the portrait. The father, a somber and dignified figure, is depicted seated to the left, dressed in a dark suit with a white shirt and bow tie, exuding a stern demeanor. His serious expression and the careful rendering of his facial features highlight a sense of introspection and gravity. The mother, seated beside him, wears an austere black dress adorned with a string of pearls and a brooch. Her expression is equally solemn, with a subdued, resigned gaze. Both figures are positioned against a muted background that subtly emphasizes the detailed textures of their clothing and the emotional weight conveyed through their expressions. The artist’s use of lighting accentuates the contours of their faces, contributing to the lifelike quality of the portrait and reinforcing the Realist nature of the work.
