Edouard Vuillard (1868-1940)

The present work depicts a lively breakfast conversation in the home of Jean Laroche. Laroche made his fortune in the manufacture of textiles used in the rubber industry. After World War I his business interests allowed him to move to Paris where he devoted himself to his lifelong passion for art and rare books. His home in Normandy became a gathering spot for artists and collectors alike. Among his frequent visitors was Vuillard, who had illustrated a gourmet cookbook that Laroche had co-authored with Romain Coolus. Seated at the table with Laroche at center is Coolus on his right and Vuillard's close friend Lucy Hessel, the wife of Jos Hessel, on his left. Painted just five years before Laroche's death, it presents an intimate view of the daily life of one of Vuillard's most important patrons.