PIERRE BONNARD IN THE EAST BUILDING

Continuing on with my tour of the National Gallery of Art's East building, I exited the room with the Modigliani paintings and entered a room filled with paintings by two of my favorite painters: Pierre Bonnard and Henri Matisse.

Both artists began their careers in Paris but later they were drawn to the light and color of southern France. I love color in paintings; that's why I love the paintings of the Fauvists  and Nabis; Matisse was associated with the Fauvists; Bonnard was associated with the Nabis. These two artists' work really show how color was important to them in their works. See for yourselves...

Many of Bonnard's paintings simply focus on the everyday life around him.

Work Table (1926/1937): 

This painting was confiscated by the Nazi ERR during WWII, and selected by Herman Goering during one of his *tours* of the Jeu de Paume. It was recovered after the war and returned to France.

The Green Table (1910)

Nude in an Interior (1935): 
The detailing in this painting is remarkable: in the patterns in the wallpaper, the carpeting and the sofa.

Stairs in the Artist's Garden (1942/1944): 
This painting shows the brilliant color Bonnard found while living in the South of France.

A Spring Landscape (1935)

In the next post I will show the brilliant colors of Matisse's masterpieces.

The National Gallery of Art is located on the National Mall between 3rd and 9th Streets NW along Constitution Avenue. The entrance to the East Building is on 4th Street NW.

• Admission is always FREE.
• Open Monday-Saturday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Open Sunday: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
• Closed on December 25 and January 1. 

All photos in this blog post were taken by me during my visit in June, 2017.  Unauthorized use is prohibited.