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Félix Vallotton, a committed witness to the turmoil of French politics

Moreover,

Félix vallotton, committed witness turmoil:

Made in the early 1890s. However, “La Charge” was an illustration of the anarchist trends of Félix Vallotton. Similarly, PD-Art photographs / Wikicommons

It is an unknown facet of the Swiss artist Félix Vallotton. Similarly, famous worldwide for his paintings: a man revolted against the “bourgeois” institutions, who flirted with the Parisian anarchist circles. Therefore, Immersed in the archives for the 100th anniversary of his disappearance. However, – Félix vallotton, committed witness turmoil

1882: Félix Vallotton arrives in Paris to study art. Furthermore, He is neither the first nor the last Swiss to “climb” in the French capital to learn the profession. Furthermore, René Auberjonois. Additionally, Furthermore, the writer Charles-Ferdinand Ramuz will experience it a few years later, just like the painter Albert Anker in the 1850s. Moreover, But Vallotton is younger than them when he discovers Paris: he was only seventeen.

Not enough to reassure Félix’s father, an industrial chocolate maker in Lausanne. Meanwhile, The young man’s drawing teacher. Moreover, Jules Lefebvre, reassures the dad in a letter: “I hold your son in high esteem and have so far had only to rent me from him in all respects.” Just add Lefebvre to trust him.

Father Vallotton knows that the Academy of félix vallotton, committed witness turmoil Fine Arts where Félix is ​​studying is led by a renowned painter. Consequently, Charles Maurin. Nevertheless, But perhaps he ignores that in addition to teaching him the drawing. However, Maurin transmits his disgust for “bourgeois” institutions and his penchant for anarchism? However, The letters we have kept from the artist do not say much about his political and social choices. Furthermore, However, His works speak more.

Flagship of anarchism – Félix vallotton, committed witness turmoil

Made in the early 1890s, “the charge” does not give in the nuance. For example, We see police officers loading with the baillonnette of frightened citizens, some of which are projected in the air. Nevertheless, In the “demonstration”, panicked men try to escape the police. Moreover, These engraved woods “indicts. In addition, as did anarchist activities themselves, private property, government injustice, police violence and compulsory military service,” notes Sasha M. Meanwhile, Newman in the catalog of the exhibition dedicated félix vallotton, committed witness turmoil to Vallotton in the United States in 1991.

Portrait of Félix Vallotton (1865-1929), according to a self-portrait, not dated photo. félix vallotton, committed witness turmoil
Portrait of Félix Vallotton (1865-1929), according to a self-portrait, not dated photo. Keystone / IBA-BRCHIV

It is the flagship era of anarchism. Pierre Kropotkine theorizes it and opposes the socialism of Karl Marx. The Italian Health Geronimo Caserio gives an application up to it by murdering the President of the French Republic. Sadi Carnot.

Vallotton’s anarchism is less radical. “Building on the success of his wood engravings. he receives orders from newspapers, where he transposes the same stylistic language and continues to denounce the abuses of the police,” points Katia Poletti, curator at the Félix Vallotton Foundation, based in Lausanne. félix vallotton, committed witness turmoil She posted the reasoned catalog online on June 25External link From some 1200 illustrations by the artist. A colossal work-ten years of research-which she undertook with the Swiss Institute for the Study of Art (SIK-ISEA).

Vallotton defends Dreyfus – Félix vallotton, committed witness turmoil

Vallotton does not share the bohemian life of some of his contemporaries. His schedule is set as a Swiss clock. “I work all day, and sometimes in the evening. I leave little. go to the library and see few people, it suits me enough, “he wrote in February 1895 to his brother Paul, who takes care of selling his works. He lives with Hélène Chatenay, a seamstress who will also be her model.

About the same time. the art critic Thadée Natanson, one of the officials of the famous White review, draws up this portrait of the Vaudois artist: “Vallotton (…) had arrived very young and very thin, blond, félix vallotton, committed witness turmoil oval and barely asymmetrical face, very little mustachioed but with a nothingness. He was walking aside, attentive to his steps. If his garment showed a little rope, it should also have been to have been too carefully brushed. He looked constantly on his guard. ”

The White review is progressive but not revolutionary. She will publish numerous illustrations by Vallotton. especially during the Dreyfus affair, where she firmly defends the unjustly accused captain – because he is Jewish – of betrayal.

The “foreign nabi” is naturalized

The White Review is read at all Paris. Vallotton is starting to make himself known far beyond anarchist readers. But the Vaudois remains the “foreign Nabi”. named after the artistic current which he joins with his friends Pierre Bonnard and Edouard Vuillard. And at that time, foreigners suspected of political activities can be easily renewed at the borders. “So I’m going to félix vallotton, committed witness turmoil ask for my naturalization,” he wrote to his brother in February 1898 (…) because as I am, I feel too much at the mercy of everything, and without help. It also paralyzes me for my drawings and the title of foreigner begins to become discomfort. ”

“It’s war!”, 1915-1916, private collection. © Fine Art Images / Heritage Images

Everything changes for Vallotton in these years 1899-1900. He becomes French, moved from his slightly filthy left bank to more chic buildings behind the opera. And above all, he leaves his seamstress for an art dealer’s daughter. You can feel a little embarrassment when he announces it to his brother Paul félix vallotton, committed witness turmoil and his sister-in-law telling. “So be both, for me and my future woman, as sympathetic as you were for me alone (…) As for my fiancée. that’s it; She is widowed as I told you, her name is Rodrigues she is the daughter of Mr Bernheim a large table merchant (…) If we are getting married in May, we will immediately spin for Switzerland to get to know it. It will be a great pleasure to present it to you. and I hope it will not have a trouble winning your friendship. ”

Against war

“It seems to me that there was a revolution,” wrote his dear friend Edouard Vuillard. Vallotton gets fun, favors painting. Does the Vaudois put water in his anarchist wine? “No. he remains haunted by the themes of injustice and police oppression, as evidenced by the series ‘Crimes and punishments’, published by the Libertaire félix vallotton, committed witness turmoil journal ‘L’Assiette au butter’ in 1903”, notes Katia Poletti. But, being naturalized French, he can do it more freely. And the era has changed: advocating violence in the 1890s, anarchism became more pacifist and anti -militarist, ”adds the conservative.

When the war of 14-18. Vallotton, a young fifties, comes back to wood engraving to denounce the violence of the conflict, in his series “It’s war!” “The artist has lost none of his verve. he brilliantly takes up this means of expression which had succeeded so well at the start of his career,” notes Katia Poletti. In 1917, he went to the front as part of an “artistic mission to the armies”, made some sketches. But back in his workshop. he prefers to trust his memories to paint “Verdun” and “the military cemetery of Châlons”, very graphic works that reveal the new war, dominated by the technique.

>> Reread: our portrait félix vallotton, committed witness turmoil of Félix Vallotton for the 100th anniversary of his disappearance:

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Félix Vallotton five o'clock. 1898 félix vallotton, committed witness turmoil

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Félix Vallotton: a painter, a writer and a light feather

This content was published on Feb 20. 2025 Switzerland celebrates the 100th anniversary of the disappearance of Félix Vallotton. one of the most famous Swiss artists in the world.

Read more Félix Vallotton: a painter. a writer and a luminous feather

Text reread and verified by Samuel Jaberg

Félix vallotton, committed witness turmoil

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Caroline is a digital marketing expert who writes about the latest trends in social media, branding, and growing your business online.
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