The artwork titled “Woman with a Hat” was painted by Edouard Vuillard in 1901. This oil on board painting is an exemplar of the Intimism movement, characterizing domestic and personal settings with emotional subtlety. The portrait has dimensions of 38.7 x 46 cm and currently belongs to a private collection.
In the painting, the subject is depicted wearing a wide-brimmed hat adorned with what appears to be floral decorations, characteristic of the fashion at the turn of the 20th century. The woman is portrayed with a frontal gaze, giving an engaging look to the viewer, as her shoulders are turned at a slight angle. The background features a mélange of brushstrokes creating a somewhat abstract floral pattern, which complements the decoration on her hat, while the hat and her clothing are executed with quick, suggestive brushstrokes that capture the textures of the fabric and the softness of the petals. The use of light and shadow subtly models the woman’s face, emphasizing her features with a delicate balance. Vuillard’s use of color and form imbues the portrait with an intimate, warm atmosphere, inviting the viewer into the subject’s personal space. The foreground is dominated by the bright yellow tone of what might be a table or space in front of the woman, providing a vivid contrast to her white attire and the rich, earthy colors of the backdrop.
