The Pink House, Varengeville

Painted in 1906, this quiet coastal scene comes from the Swiss-French artist Félix Vallotton, who is best known as a member of Les Nabis, a group of young painters who admired flat shapes, bold outlines, and the decorative beauty of Japanese prints. Here a sandy path leads the eye gently toward the sea, framed by dense green bushes on either side. Off to the right sits the house that gives the work its name, with its warm white walls and bright red roof catching the soft evening light. You can spot the artist's signature and the date in the lower corner.

Vallotton spent time along the coast of Normandy, and Varengeville was a favorite spot for many painters, including Claude Monet. What makes this picture feel a little different is its calm and stillness. Rather than chasing fleeting effects of light the way the Impressionists did, Vallotton smooths everything into simple, solid blocks of color. The trees become rounded masses, the sky fades into gentle bands, and the whole scene takes on a peaceful, almost dreamlike quietness. It is an unhurried view of an ordinary place, painted by someone who clearly enjoyed the calm of the end of the day.