Bonnard

At the end of the 19th century, the painter Pierre Bonnard (1867-1947) actively participated in the construction of aesthetic modernity within the Nabis group. His painting proposed new and radical formulas for the transformation of space and narrative, and he promoted a decompartmentalized art encompassing all techniques. A lover of Japan and of prints in particular, the artist adopted their formula of two-dimensional space and the use of flat tints.

Although the avant-gardes of the early 20th century placed him in the background of the Parisian art scene, the painter continued his research into colour, light, matter and space, drawing his inspiration from his familiar surroundings while echoing the anxieties of the contemporary world.

This imposing monograph covers all the facets of Bonnard's work in both chronological and thematic order. It reveals the variety of subjects in a work nourished by the painter's intimacy, his places of residence and his sociability and sheds light on the aesthetic issues underlying his commitment to modernity.