Pastels among the Nabis: Roussel, Ranson, Vuillard

Several of the Nabis painted in pastels during their careers. Of the three I cover in this article, it was perhaps Ker-Xavier Roussel who was the most prolific in this medium, and created some of his finest works using it. All three benefitted from a relatively conventional training: Roussel, for instance, started as a pupil in the studio of Diogène Maillart, an academic history painter, and from there went on to the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. All three were founding members of the Nabis when they were students at the Académie Julian under Tony Robert-Fleury.

Ker-Xavier Roussel (1867–1944), Women and Children by a Village (Let the little children come to me) (c 1893-95), pastel on grey paper, 37 x 52 cm, Private collection. The Athenaeum.

Roussel’s Women and Children by a Village, also known by the Biblical quotation of Let the little children come to me, from about 1893-95…