Pierre Bonnard (French, 1867–1947) was a painter and lithographer, best known for his depictions of nudes, still lifes, and landscapes, as well as his association with the Nabis group of Paris’ Académie Julian. Originally a law student, Bonnard enrolled in the École des Beaux-Arts in 1888. His artistic colleagues included
Edouard Vuillard, with whom he developed a long friendship, as well as
Paul Sérusier and
Maurice Denis. The works of the Nabis were often inspired by Japanese prints and the paintings of
Paul Gauguin.
Beginning in 1890, Bonnard began creating colored lithographs while sharing studio space with Denis and Vuillard. Bonnard also designed furniture, book illustrations, posters, theater interiors, and even a stained-glass window on behalf of
Louis Comfort Tiffany. Bonnard’s first solo exhibition took place in 1896, at the Galerie Durand-Ruel, and he continued to exhibit his work with the Nabis group until its members dispersed in 1900. Major exhibitions of Bonnard’s work have been presented by the Art Institute of Chicago and The Museum of Modern Art in New York, as well as other institutions. Bonnard’s legacy as an influential and versatile turn-of-the-century artist still resonates today.