Study for "In the Street" (Dans la rue)

Art Historical Context

Pierre Bonnard's *Study for "In the" (Dans la rue, created around 1900, offers a glimpse into the preparatory world of this Post-Impressionist master. A key figure in the intimate, color-drenched Les Nabis group alongside peers like Maurice Denis, Bonnard was renowned for capturing everyday life with a poetic touch—often domestic interiors bathed in dappled light. This narrow drawing, likely sketching an urban scene, reflects his early 20th-century fascination with the vibrancy of Parisian streets, bridging his Nabi symbolism with emerging modernism. Executed in pastel, brush and black ink with scratching out on wove paper, the work measures just 27.1 x 11.4 cm, inviting close inspection. Pastel lends soft, luminous hues, while ink outlines forms with fluid precision; the scratching technique—gently scraping away layers—creates textured highlights and depth, mimicking light's play on surfaces. As a study, it reveals Bonnard's meticulous process: rapid ideation refined through mixed media experimentation. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's Virginia and Ira Jackson Collection, this delicate drawing underscores Bonnard's innovative draftsmanship, bridging painting and printmaking traditions. For visitors, it's a window into how fleeting street moments were transformed into timeless art.

About the Artist

Pierre Bonnard · 1867–1947

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...