Vuillard's early work figures in standard histories of modern painting. What he did between the wars is largely ignored - people felt it was kinder to forget about it. It would be nice to say that the exhibition at the Royal Academy until 18 April confutes received wisdom. It doesn't. All you can say is that the early rooms offer pleasures which the late ones cannot expunge. The challenge the curators of the exhibition offer to this judgment is bold and unconvincing.

LRB 19 February 2004 | PDF Download