Bonnard et le Japon

This is the first exhibition on the subject to show how Bonnard, once known as the "Nabi très Japonard", integrated the aesthetics of Japanese art into his treatment of space, time and movement, creating works that broke with naturalism and impressionism. Works by the French painter will be exhibited alongside Japanese prints to illustrate their correspondence and formal affinities, as well as the importance of this source of inspiration for the artist. In this exhibition, the public will be able to (re)discover Bonnard?s works, as well as a selection of Japanese prints from the prestigious Leskowicz collection, in order to fully understand how Bonnard?s style was marked to the end by Japanese concepts and aesthetics. A dynamic scenographic presentation will show how works by artists so distant in time, space and culture, raise similar aesthetic questions and express ideas, emotions and situations with many points in common. Very early on, Japan set Bonnard on the path of color, light, the instantaneous and the expression of ephemeral feelings. The exhibition catalog, edited by Isabelle Cahn, will complement the exhibition's content with scholarly contributions on Japonism and Japanese prints. This exhibition benefits from generous loans from the Musée Bonnard. Guided tours of the exhibition from April 30, Monday to Saturday at 5pm and Sunday at 4pm. Our cultural mediators will introduce you to the works of Pierre Bonnard and a selection of Japanese prints.