Sketches including "A Promenade in Fancy Hats"
1891/1893
Medium
pen and brush and black ink on wove paper
Dimensions
overall: 20.6 x 30.8 cm (8 1/8 x 12 1/8 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Neil Phillips
Accession Number
1987.53.1
Art Historical Context
Pierre Bonnard's *Sketches including "A Promenade in Fancy Hats"* (1891/1893) offers a delightful glimpse into the early career of this French Post-Impressionist master. Created when Bonnard was in his mid-20s and actively involved with the avant-garde Les Nabis group, the work captures his budding talent for capturing everyday scenes with whimsy and precision. As a member of this Symbolist-influenced circle, Bonnard drew inspiration from Japanese prints and Paul Gauguin, blending decorative patterns with intimate observations of modern life. Executed in pen and brush with black ink on smooth...
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...