L'Homme à la veste verte (The Man in the Green Jacket), also known as Portrait of Lugné-Poe
Painting on panel (cardboard/paperboard) • Édouard Vuillard (1868–1940)
Style & Movement
Nabis (Post-Impressionism / Symbolism)
Medium & Technique
Oil on cardboard. The technique utilizes the Nabis 'flat tint' method (aplats de couleur) with visible brushwork and a lack of traditional modeling to emphasize decorative pattern.
Creation Period
Circa 1891
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 20 x 12 cm. Portrait format with rounded corners.
Subject Description
A radical depiction of a man (likely the theatre director Lugné-Poe) looking down, possibly reading. The composition is notable for its extreme cropping, flattening of the figure into geometric zones of green, pink, and yellow, and the stark decorative handling of the hair and facial features.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good. The support appears stable, but there is evidence of edge wear consistent with age and typical color shift in the binder.
Estimated Market Value
$150,000 – $300,000 USD
Auction Estimate
$100,000 – $250,000 USD
Provenance History
Likely originated from a private French collection associated with the Nabis circles. Vuillard's works from this early experimental period often passed through the Bernheim-Jeune gallery or were held by his close friends/family.
Art Historical Significance
This piece is highly significant as a representative of the 'radical Vuillard' period (1890-1892). It showcases the influence of Japanese woodblock prints (Ukiyo-e) and the move away from Impressionism toward a modernist, synthetic approach to portraiture and space.
Notable Features
Features the artist's signature 'E Vuillard' in the lower left corner. The use of the cardboard's raw texture to interact with the pigment is a hallmark of his 1890s practice.
Condition Issues
Minor surface abrasions at the edges; possible slight bowing of the cardboard support; oxidized surface typical of early oils on unprimed board.
Conservation Recommendations
UVR-protective glazing (non-reflective); monitoring of humidity levels to prevent warping of the cardboard; minimal cleaning by a professional conservator to remove surface dust.