Still Life at a Window
- Artist: Vanessa Bell
- Date: 1922
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The Courtauld Gallery
- Collection record: The Courtauld Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is the Still Life at a Window by Vanessa Bell. Painted in 1922, it’s one of the rare moments where Bell steps away from her usual interior scenes and turns the lens toward an urban view. Through the painted window the roof and chimney of a Parisian studio peek out—identified by art historians as the very façade that framed Bell’s own workspace in the 1920s. The light spilling inside gives the canvas a warm, sunlit glow that contrasts sharply with the sombre palette she favored after the Great War.
On the table, she lays ceramic vessels, a scattering of fresh flowers, and patterned curtains, each rendered with a subtle but deliberate touch. The colors are deep, muted, yet rich—a testament to Bell’s shift toward more expressive hues during that post‑war period. This piece was bought by Samuel Courtauld straight from an exhibition at the London Artists’ Association in 1926, making it the only work by Bell in his collection. Created with oil on canvas, the painting offers a quiet yet striking glimpse into Bell’s world, marrying everyday objects with the architectural detail of her surroundings.
See it in person
Still Life at a Window hangs in The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House, London. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
