Walking at the Lake, Bois de Boulogne
c. 1900
Medium
oil on millboard
Dimensions
overall: 26.7 x 28.6 cm (10 1/2 x 11 1/4 in.) framed: 33.7 x 36.2 x 4.4 cm (13 1/4 x 14 1/4 x 1 3/4 in.)
Classification
Painting
Department
CMC
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon
Accession Number
2006.128.10
Art Historical Context
Step into the sun-dappled serenity of Pierre Bonnard's *Walking at the Lake, Bois de Boulogne* (c. 1900), a charming oil on millboard painting that captures a leisurely stroll in one of Paris's most beloved parks. Bonnard, a leading figure in the Post-Impressionist group Les Nabis, renders the scene with his signature intimacy and joy in everyday moments. The Bois de Boulogne, a sprawling green oasis on the city's edge, was a favored escape for Parisians at the fin de siècle, evoking the era's fascination with nature amid urban bustle. This modest 26.7 x 28.6 cm work exemplifies Bonnard's inn...
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...