Study for cover of "Petit solfège illustré"
1891/1893
Medium
brush and black ink and watercolor over graphite
Dimensions
overall: 22.5 x 31.6 cm (8 7/8 x 12 7/16 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Virginia and Ira Jackson Collection
Accession Number
2001.136.38
Art Historical Context
Created in the early 1890s, Pierre Bonnard's *Study for cover of "Petit solfège illustré"* captures the artist's youthful experimentation during his affiliation with the Nabis, a group of Post-Impressionist painters who emphasized decorative patterns, bold colors, and Japanese print influences. At just 24–26 years old, Bonnard was transitioning from formal training at the École des Beaux-Arts to innovative graphic design, including posters and book illustrations. This preparatory drawing for a children's music primer—"Petit solfège illustré," or "Little Illustrated Solfege"—highlights his earl...
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...