Laziness (La paresse)
Félix Vallotton (1865 - 1925), 1896
woodcut in black, 25 cm x 33 cm
Credits: Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (purchased with support from the VriendenLoterij)
There was a woodcut revival in France toward the end of the nineteenth century, in which the Swiss-French artist Félix Vallotton was the leading figure. His career peaked between 1896 and 1898 with his brilliant black-and-white woodcuts.
Laziness is one of Vallotton’s most famous prints. His wooden block combines line, surface and contrast to create an elegant and seductive image. The nude woman and the cat consist primarily of areas of white. The sofa on which she stretches languidly is made up, by contrast, of intricate patterns. Together they form a decorative whole.
Inspiration for Vallotton’s woodcuts was drawn from Japanese printmaking, in which the decorative value of the image likewise plays an important part. However, where Japanese printmakers tended to use lots of different colours in a single print, Vallotton worked exclusively in black and white. His French contemporaries also focused on colour, making Vallotton’s work unique.
What is it?
What can you see?
Context
- Object number
- p2746S2014
- Dimensions
- 25 cm x 33 cm, 17.7 cm x 22 cm
- Catalogue raisonné
- Godefroy 167,Vallotton & Goerg 169
- printmaker
- Félix Vallotton
- Credits
- Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (purchased with support from the VriendenLoterij)
- signature and number
- fvallotton 137
- monogram
- FV by Vallotton, Félix
- inscription
- LA PARESSE by Vallotton, Félix
Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, Ongekend. Verhalen rond 10 jaar aanwinsten, 5 February-12 September 2021
Tokyo, Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, Prints in Paris 1900: From Elite to the Street, 18 October 2017-8 January 2018
Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, Prints in Paris 1900. Van elitair tot populair, 3 March-11 June 2017
Maastricht, MECC, TEFAF Maastricht, 14-23 March 2014
Godefroy, L., oeuvre gravé de Félix Vallotton (1865-1925), 1932, [unpaged]