Pierre Bonnard (1867-1947) Le soleil (The Sun) 1940s Lithograph on Paper 15.25"x19.25" framed, 10"x14" unframed Signed in plate lower right, watermark "marais" upper right edge vertically. Good vintage condition, sun damage/discoloration on the left/bottom. Framed in a restored vintage beveled wood frame with a cream wash finish using archival linen spacers behind conservation clear glass.From the estate of Edyth and Phillip Bassett. Pierre Bonnard was a French painter, illustrator, and printmaker, and a leading figure in the transition from impressionism to modernism. Bonnard’s work is characterized by his playful use of color and brushstrokes, as well has his implementation of decorative strategies and motifs. Joyful, romantic, and tinged with melancholy, Bonnard’s work has been widely praised for its capture of the essence of a life well lived, while also ever so gently nodding to its impermanence. This is especially evident in his later work, which featured intimate interior scenes, whose soft impressionist brushstrokes evoke the sensation of a distant, yet pleasant memory. He was a founding member of the Post-Impressionist group of avant-garde artists know as Les Nabis (1888-1900) alongside notable painters such as Maurice Denis, Paul Ranson, Édouard Vuillard, Ker-Xavier Roussel, Félix Vallotton, and Paul Sérusier. A retrospective of his prolific body of work was recently on view at SFMoma in 2018. View The Legends of Modern Art Collection & Read the Bassett Family Story
