{"product_id":"the-balloon-felix-vallotton","title":"The Balloon - Félix Vallotton","description":"\u003cp\u003eA striking 1899 oil painting by Félix Vallotton featuring a child chasing a red ball across a flat, sunlit space.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePainted in 1899, The Balloon is a characteristic work by the Swiss-born artist Félix Vallotton. It depicts a child running across a flat, sandy expanse towards a small red ball. The composition is defined by a stark contrast between the expansive, textured green foliage in the upper portion and the muted, beige ground below. Vallotton employs a flattened perspective, a technique often associated with the Nabis group, which prioritises decorative arrangement over traditional depth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe scene possesses a quiet, almost unsettling stillness. The child, dressed in white with a straw hat, casts a long, sharp shadow that stretches across the sand, suggesting a bright, low-angled sun. In the distance, two small figures stand near the edge of the dark, dense trees, their presence adding a sense of scale and mystery to the open space. The palette is restrained, relying on the interplay of deep greens, earthy tones, and the singular, bright accent of the red ball.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVallotton was known for his detached, analytical approach to his subjects. He avoids sentimental depictions of childhood, opting instead for a precise, graphic quality that borders on the surreal. The work reflects his interest in Japanese woodblock prints, which influenced his use of bold shapes and simplified forms. This print captures the specific atmosphere of a summer afternoon, rendered with a clarity that remains distinct from the softer, more atmospheric styles of his contemporaries. The work is held in the collection of the Musée d'Orsay in Paris.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/girl-from-savoy-paul-serusier\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eGirl from Savoy by Paul Sérusier\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/at-the-theatre-pierre-bonnard\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eAt the Theatre by Pierre Bonnard\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/felix-vallotton\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#2a555a;border:1px solid #2a555a;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#ffffff;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eMore by Félix Vallotton →\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Félix Vallotton","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":59113069838671,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":59113079701839,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":59113079734607,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59113079767375,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59113079800143,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59113079832911,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59113079865679,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59113079898447,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59113079931215,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59113079963983,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59113079996751,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59113080029519,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/The-Balloon_Poster_CompositorV1_1791918307641.jpg?v=1791918453","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/products\/the-balloon-felix-vallotton","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}