Until October 6th, Caumont - Centre d'Art invites you to discover the work of Pierre Bonnard like you’ve never seen before. Through a selection of exceptional paintings, the institution explores the painter's fascination with Japanese prints, whose discovery changed his view of art. An unprecedented exhibition, shining a light on the unique process of the artist.
Pierre Bonnard, Conversation Provençale © Prague, Národní Galerie, Photo : akg-images / Erich Lessing
Bonnard and Japan, a Love Story at the Crossroads of Worlds
It was in 1890, during an exhibition organized by Siegfried Bing at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, that Pierre Bonnard truly discovered Japanese painting. It was a revelation that shook him so deeply that it would completely change his approach to painting. From that moment on, he embraced new aesthetic principles, turning away from a classical representation of reality. The Nabi began to collect prints, and his art turned towards «japonisme».
As he created, Bonnard then claimed the fluidity of movements, the contrast of colors, a strong taste for decor, and even the flattening of space.
. It's a new era that begins, encouraging the artist to turn towards an innovative representation of the ephemeral, not to reproduce what he sees, but rather to express what he feels. And to achieve this, he only uses one major instrument: color.
Pierre Bonnard, At the Bar © Private Collection, Photo: Heritage Images / Fine Art Images / akg-images
An Exhibition as Disturbing as it is Refreshing
In these uniquely captivating works, Caumont - Centre d'Art invites you to dive in today. By bringing into dialogue the painter's creations and a selection of Japanese prints from the prestigious Leskowicz collection, the museum highlights the unbreakable bonds and the indisputable influence of Japanese art on Bonnard, who was inspired not only by their aesthetics but also by the way of thinking of Japanese artists.
On-site, we discover a unique selection of paintings, some of which are rarely or never before shown to the French public. Among the major works presented, we find Women in the Garden, a stunning piece that captures...
representing the 4 seasons through the profiles of 4 mystical women with Japanese flair. Or also Almond Tree in Bloom, his very latest painting, which shows that, until the end of his life, Bonnard will remain faithful to his lifelong love: Japan.
View of the exhibition, Pierre Bonnard, Women in the Garden, Musée d’Orsay, Photo © Culturespaces / Thomas Garnier
Bonnard and Japan
Caumont - Art Center
3, rue Joseph Cabassol – Aix-en-Provence
Until October 6, 2024
More info
