Large Tree in the Distance

While Vuillard devoted most of his early career to interior scenes, around 1900 he began to discover the pleasure of drawing outdoors. “I really enjoy being in the country,” he wrote that year. “I’m astonished to see the sky, by turns blue, grey, green, and that the clouds come in all sorts of different shapes and colors.” Although Vuillard rarely painted pure landscapes, his numerous sketches of trees, such as this one, became inspiration for the backdrops of large-scale decorations depicting gatherings in the countryside.