Pierre Bonnard (1867-1947) was a French painter and printmaker, as well as a founding member of the Post-Impressionist group Les Nabis. Bonnard preferred to work from memory, using drawings as a reference, and his paintings are often characterized by a dreamlike quality. The intimate domestic scenes, for which he is primarily known, often include his wife Marthe de Meligny.
Bonnard’s work is often associated with the French countryside and mainline of French youth at the turn of the century. His palette was light and often filled with happy scenes of family life. He is known for his intense use of color and his bold curves and juxtapositions.
Bonnard did not limit himself to one particular style or approach to painting, and his work includes a wide variety of genres. His subjects ranged from landscapes to portraits, interiors to still lives, figure studies to nudes. In every genre he applied his unique vision and technical prowess.
Bonnard’s work is represented in many major museums around the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Musee d’Orsay, and the National Gallery of Art.
