The Bistro
c. 1895
Félix Vallotton captures the chaotic energy of a Parisian bar in this raucous scene, where waiters in stark black and white uniforms weave through a crowd of boisterous patrons. Some men are shouting, others downing drinks with gusto, their faces distorted in laughter and argument. As a key member of the Nabis group, Vallotton brings a graphic, almost woodcut-like quality to the composition, flattening the space to emphasize the social satire of bustling bistro life. It’s a snapshot of 1890s nightlife that feels loud enough to hear.
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