Visiting the Félix Vallotton Retrospective in Lausanne

I had the pleasure of visiting the exhibition dedicated to Félix Vallotton at the Musée cantonal des Beaux-Arts in Lausanne, and I wanted to share this beautiful cultural experience. Born in Lausanne, Vallotton holds a unique place in late 19th-century art: bold, observant, and remarkably modern.

The exhibition offers a clear and thoughtful journey through his different creative periods, revealing both his sharp eye and his sense of staging. A few works particularly stood out to me:

Misia at Her Dressing Table (1898) – This painting struck me with its highly graphic style: almost geometric shapes, controlled flat areas of colour, and crisp contours. Vallotton reduces the scene to its essence, giving it a striking modernity. The gesture, the furniture, and the space feel built as a set of volumes — an intimate yet structured work.

On the Beach (1899) – A seaside scene that appears extremely simple at first glance, yet the flat colours and pared-down composition create a quiet poetry. One can almost feel the sea breeze and the calmness of the moment.

The Theatre Box, the Gentleman and the Lady (1909) – A painting with a wonderfully theatrical atmosphere. Everything is suggested: the relationship, the elegance, the act of observing society from one’s box. Vallotton excels here in the art of telling without showing.

What makes the exhibition so compelling is the balance between aesthetic discovery and a deeper understanding of Vallotton’s view of his time. You leave with the feeling of having encountered a profoundly modern artist, one who captures the essence of gestures, atmospheres, and human relationships.

If you are passing through Lausanne, I can only recommend a visit: an inspiring, refined, and soothing moment.