Lucie Hessel et Lulu dans le billard aux Clayes

Vuillard was first introduced to Jos Hessel and his wife Lucie by Flix Vallotton at Omanel, near Lausanne, in 1900. Jos was a successful picture dealer and his gallery, Bernheim-Jeune, was to handle Vuillard's work from about this time. Lucie became a close companion of the artist; she was his muse, his mentor and, as some scholars have suggested, possibly even his lover. She was also a favourite model of his and appears in many works. The present picture depicts her with her daughter in the billiard room of their house, Les Clayes.

Antoine Salomon will include this work in his forthcoming Vuillard catalogue raisonn.