Pierre Bonnard : Early and Late

This major presentation of the work of Pierre Bonnard follows a new line of inquiry reconciling what has previously been seen as two distinct early and creative periods: the Nabis, or symbolist Bonnard, and the later, so-called Impressionist or colorist Bonnard. By uniting representative works from all periods of Bonnard's life, this book charts the artist's singular pathway and illustrates his highly independent artistic vision. The 130 works illustrated here including paintings, draw-ings, prints, photographs, and sculpture, show that Bonnard continually experimented with alternative media and drew from a range of sources, both Eastern and Western. Above all, this book demonstrates Bonnard's overriding and lifelong interest in color. Three essays explore diverse aspects of the artist's work: his aesthetic innovations in light and color stemming from inventions in photography and film; the influence of Japonisme in his early and late work; and the critical role played by his early formative education at Parisian lyces.