Currently indexing

 
Pierre Bonnard, French, 1867-1947
Title: Nude before a Mirror
Date: 1915
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions:
59.9 x 51 cm
Signed: lower right: Bonnard
Credit Line: Purchased, 2009
Object Number: NGI.2009.13
DescriptionIntimate in scale and subject-matter, Bonnard depicts a nude woman occupied with her toilette in a boudoir setting. It was a subject that he would sketch and paint hundreds of times. Although Bonnard did use professional models, his depictions of the female toilette were mainly modelled upon his partner Marthe de Méligny (1869-1942).

The composition is arranged with an artful randomness that teases the viewer by simultaneously rewarding and thwarting visual expectations. The pitcher and bowl lead the viewer into the picture but are abruptly cut by the canvas edge while the opening of the fireplace is partially blocked by a white towel. Bonnard further hides and reveals by presenting the woman's body from behind and reflecting her face into the room on the surface of the framed mirror, a device which creates the effect of a painting within the painting.

Heightened colour and tonal contrasts are characteristic of Bonnard's work. Yellows, oranges and pinks are shot with blues and chalky whites to give an intensity and luminosity to the scene. Bonnard's sketchy brushwork might suggest that this picture was executed rapidly from life, but his finished paintings were, in fact, studio pieces, based upon sketches, photographs and memory.

ProvenanceGalerie Beyeler, Basel; Marcel Mabille, Brussels, by 1959; Private Collection, Belgium; Sotheby's, London, 24 June 1997, lot 12; Private Collection; purchased, Christie's, New York, 6 May 2009, Impressionist/Modern Sale, lot 20.
Exhibition HistoryL'Ecole de Paris dans les collections belges, Musee d'art Moderne, Paris, 1959
Label TextBonnard is known for his depictions of private life in domestic contexts and is often described as an Intimist. Like Edgar Degas, whom he greatly admired, he sketched and painted the subject of the female toilette hundreds of times. Although Bonnard did employ professional models, his partner Marthe de Méligny also modelled for him. Here, he presents the woman's body from behind but reflects her face on the surface of the framed mirror. This compositional device creates the effect of a painting within the painting. The overlaid strokes of hot and cool colours give a sense of warmth and luminosity to the scene.

This website uses cookies

We use optional cookies to enhance your user experience and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you’ve provided to them or that they’ve collected from your use of their services.

Details

About Cookies

Cookies are small text files that can be used by websites to make a user's experience more efficient. The law states that we can store cookies on your device if they are strictly necessary for the operation of this site. For all other types of cookies we need your permission. This site uses different types of cookies. Some cookies are placed by third party services that appear on our pages. You can at any time change or withdraw your consent from the Cookie Declaration on our website. Learn more about who we are, how you can contact us and how we process personal data in our Privacy Policy. Please state your consent ID and date when you contact us regarding your consent.

Necessary Cookies

Necessary cookies help make a website usable by enabling basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website. The website cannot function properly without these cookies.

NameProviderPurposeExpiryType
JSESSIONIDeMuseumUser SessionSessionHTTP

Statistics Cookies

Statistic cookies help website owners to understand how visitors interact with websites by collecting and reporting information anonymously.

NameProviderPurposeExpiryType
_gaGoogle Tag ManagerRegisters a unique ID that is used to generate statistical data on how the visitor uses the website.2 yearsJavaScript
_gidGoogle Tag ManagerRegisters a unique ID that is used to generate statistical data on how the visitor uses the website.1 dayJavaScript