French artist and printmaker Pierre Bonnard (1867 – 1947) was one of the founding members of Les Nabis.
Les Nabis were a group of avant-garde Post Impressionists who distorted colour and composition to decorative effect.
Bonnard was interested in unusual and unexpected angles and aerial perspectives – greatly influenced by Japanese prints. It is this which links him with Vuillard and the Nabis.
His interest in capturing the light is very impressionistic but his expressive use of paint and his intense close brushwork give his work expression.
His wife Marthe features heavily in his work, often seen in the bath or eating a meal.
Bonnard didn’t paint from life but preferred to draw his subjects first, sometimes photographing them. He always made notes of the colours. He would then translate these colours onto canvas from his notes.
Video by DistantMirrors with thanks!
Read more about the Nabis here
