Le Bain

Félix Vallotton, a Swiss-French artist associated with Les Nabis, emerged as a leading figure in the woodcut revival of late 19th-century France. His innovative approach to the medium, characterized by stark black and white contrasts and intricate patterns, modernized and revitalized woodcut printmaking in Western art. Vallotton's woodcuts, particularly those created between 1896 and 1898, demonstrated a unique aesthetic that sets him apart from his color-focused contemporaries. 'Le Bain' (The Bath) and 'La Paresse' (Laziness), are two of his most celebrated prints, and exemplify his mastery of the technique. They showcase his ability to create elegant and seductive imagery through a skillful combination of line, surface, and contrast. They also exemplify the influence of Japanese Ukiyo-e printmaking, with bold black and white contrasts and a focus on intimate, everyday subjects drawn from turn-of-the-century Parisian life, offering a critique of bourgeois life and leisure. The subject matter also reflects the fin-de-siècle fascination with exposing the hidden aspects of modern society, and by using simplified forms and expressive contrasts, Vallotton employs the Symbolist aesthetic of suggestion, inviting viewers to interpret the scene beyond its surface appearance.