Les Vuillard(s) d'André Chastel L'atelier de l'artiste, les chantiers du critique

Andre Chastel's archives in the library of the Institut National d'Histoire de l'Art (INHA, Paris) make it possible to specify the origins, conditions, and methods of interest for Edouard Vuillard. In June 1942, Vuillard's nephews commissioned him to produce the first catalogue of the work of the artist, with an introductory study. Chastel explored the workshop where he discovered the artist's own techniques. He conducted several interviews with Maurice Denis and K.X. Roussel in 1942 and 1943. The catalogue remained unfinished in 1943 due to the context that prevented access to numerous private collections. However, Chastel, as soon as he was commissioned, planned the writing of several essays, beginning with the form of the paragone (Vuillard and Mallarme, Vuillard and Proust), then concentrating on the monographs. These texts, written and corrected in 1942-1943 would be published after the War, with new important modifications in the case of the Chene Editions (1948). The "Vuillard moment" for Chastel was the time to contemplate writing, criticism and history.