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Pierre Bonnard was a renowned French painter and graphic artist of the latter part of the Impressionist movement. During his career, he gained a reputation for versatility in many forms of art, including lithography, book illustration, and stage scenery. He was also a leader in a branch of Impressionism known as Intimist, whose members painted intimate domestic scenes. A master of light and color, Bonnard favored self-portraits, nudes, still lifes, seascapes, and private interiors.
Bonnard often illustrated the interaction of people and the effects of light in intensely private scenes. Initially, his paintings appear to be a subtle extension of Impressionism. But closer inspection reveals far more, as figures and objects begin to move in and out of the viewer's focus. Each painting seems to present an analysis of the process of seeing and remembering.
Pierre Bonnard was born on October 3, 1867, in Fontenay-aux-Roses, a Paris suburb. His father was a notable civil servant in the War Ministry who led a structured public and private life. Bonnard grew up in this environment as the second of three children.
After leaving high school in 1885, his father wanted him to study law, but Bonnard knew he was more inclined to art. In a compromise, Bonnard studied law in Paris, but also attended art classes in his spare time. By 1887, he enrolled at the Academie Julian (also in Paris) and was later admitted to the Beaux-Arts.
Bonnard graduated from law school in 1888 and then started to practice law. Still, his focus remained primarily on art. Around this time, a fellow art student showed Bonnard a landscape that he had painted under the instruction of Gauguin. Bonnard was impressed by the painting's simple arrangement of unblended, but vivid, colors. Extending beyond Impressionism, the painting seemed, to Bonnard, to project an intimate, emotional feel. This concept captured Bonnard's imagination, and he soon decided to participate by working and promoting this new art style. As a result, Bonnard helped form an art group called "Nabis" (the Hebrew word for prophets).
By 1891, Bonnard resigned his job as a lawyer and dedicated himself exclusively to painting. Working from a small studio, he began to paint in earnest and soon showed nine of his works at a local gallery called Salon des Independants.
Bonnard's first formal art job was a commissioned poster for France-Champagne. Using a style that was reminiscent of Japanese art with its linear, decorative line, this prize-winning poster became an outstanding success for Bonnard. It also drew the attention of other famous artists, notably Toulouse Lautrec. It is interesting to note that this poster's appearance is similar to Lautrec's style, where a joyful young woman is enjoying a glass of champagne from an overflowing bottle.
Bonnard continued to show his new works (mostly lithographs) at the Salon des Independants. During this time, he met Marthe Boursin, who would become his lifelong companion and model for some 384 of his paintings.
In addition to paintings and posters, Bonnard also sketched in the 1890's. As his reputation grew, he started getting more offers to produce illustrations and undertake commissioned work. In 1894, Bonnard created a poster and several lithographs for the popular La Revue Blanche magazine.
In 1896, Bonnard showed 56 of his works at his first solo show at the Galerie Durand-Ruel. During this time, he continued to create lithographic works and also painted theatrical scenery. In one show, he collaborated with Toulouse Lautrec and later began sketching puppet models for the theater.
In 1897, he illustrated a novel entitled Marie. These illustrations also appeared in four issues of La Revue Blanche, which attracted the attention of Renoir. Impressed, Renoir sent Bonnard a letter describing the drawings as exquisite and instructed him to never lose this type of art. The book was published the following year.
In the early 1900's, Bonnard continued to paint and show his works. During this time, he traveled often throughout Europe, either working, staying with friends, or visiting museums. In 1912, Bonnard decided to buy a mansion in Givenchy near where Monet lived, and the two developed a friendship.
Bonnard continued to receive commissioned work, and in 1916, began work on four panels for the Bernhiem-Juene family (completed in 1920). During this time, he also made an etching of Renoir from a photograph thought to have been taken by Monet.
Bonnard worked prodigiously during his life up to the time of his death at Le Cannet on January 23, 1947. During his time, his works were shown all over the world. He was also elected to many art organizations and received many awards for his works. Among some of his more famous paintings are "Girl in a Straw Hat" (1903), "Checkered Tablecloth" (1910-1911), and "Nude in Bathtub" (1939).
Bonnard's body of work and list of his achievements are too detailed to cover here. For fuller appreciation, it is recommended that you view this unique artist's works and discover more about his life and times.
"Bonnard," an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, includes more than 80 landscapes, still lifes, interiors, self portraits and nudes, through October 13. For information, call (212) 708-9400, or see the Web site at www.moma.org/exhibitions/bonnard.
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Copyright ARTtalk Vol. 8 No. 11 -- September 1998