From "Le crepuscule des nymphes" (frontispiece)
1946
Image not available — this artwork is under copyright
View on museum website →Medium
lithograph on china paper
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1963.11.29
Art Historical Context
Pierre Bonnard's *From "Le crépuscule des nhes" (frontisp)*, created in 1946, is a delicate lithograph on china paper, showcasing the French artist's mastery of printmaking late in his career. Bonnard (1867–1947), a key figure in the Post-Impressionist group Les Nabis, was renowned for his luminous domestic scenes and vibrant color harmonies, often capturing fleeting moments of light and intimacy. This work, produced just a year before his death, served as the frontispiece for a publication evoking the twilight of nymphs—mythical figures symbolizing nature's ephemeral beauty. Lithography allo...
About the Artist
Pierre Bonnard
Pierre Bonnard (1867–1947) was a French painter and printmaker who became a leading figure in the Post-Impressionist movement and a founding member of Les Nabis. Born on October 3, 1867, in Fontenay-aux-Roses, France, Bonnard initially studied law at his father's insistence, graduating and briefly practicing as a barrister in 1888. However, his true passion lay in art, and he had simultaneously at...