The Balloon - Félix Vallotton
Archival giclée
Frames arrive ready to hang
Secure checkout
Made to order
Description
A striking 1899 oil painting by Félix Vallotton featuring a child chasing a red ball across a flat, sunlit space.
Painted 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.
The 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.
Vallotton 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.
Return policy
Because every print is made to order, we don't offer change-of-mind returns, refunds or exchanges. If your order arrives faulty, damaged or incorrect, we'll replace it free of charge — just contact us within 48 hours of delivery. See our refunds page for full details.
Shipping
We ship worldwide, printing at the production hub nearest to your delivery address. Delivery times and costs vary by destination — you'll see the options available to you at checkout.
Manufacturing
Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
Care and materials
Specific Features
Every Solis piece is made to order with archival, gallery-quality materials built to last.
- Museum-grade giclée printing for rich, fade-resistant colour
- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
- Multiple sizes and framing options available
- Frames in black, natural wood, dark wood or white
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang
Care & Cleaning
To keep your artwork looking its best:
- Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
- Never use liquid cleaners on the print or canvas surface
- Keep in a dry, room-temperature space
- Handle prints with clean, dry hands
Materials & Sizing
Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
The Balloon - Félix Vallotton
Artist Biography
Felix Vallotton
He moved to Paris at seventeen and studied at the Academie Julian. His woodcuts, made in the 1890s, revived a medium that most printmakers had abandoned in favour of colour lithography. Working in pure black and white, he carved domestic interiors, street scenes, and a series called Intimites: ten prints depicting the private moments of married life, with an emphasis on adultery, deception and the particular loneliness of two people in the same room. The images are flat, graphic and psychologically sharp.
His support for Alfred Dreyfus, the Jewish officer falsely convicted of espionage, strained his relationship with several of the Nabis. He bought a Kodak camera in 1899 and began using photographs as source material for paintings, manipulating compositions into fictionalised versions of observed reality.
He married the daughter of the art dealer Alexandre Bernheim in 1899, which gave him financial security and access to the Parisian art market. He painted nudes, still lifes and landscapes with a smooth, almost clinical finish that disturbed viewers who expected warmth from pictures of naked women.
He wrote three novels and eight plays, none of which were published in his lifetime. His first novel, La Vie Meurtriere (The Murderous Life), appeared posthumously in 1930. He died the day after his sixtieth birthday.
Why Choose Us ?
Damage-free delivery guarantee
Fast Shipping
Museum-Quality Materials
You May Also Like