Burial of the Dog

Art Historical Context

Pierre Bonnard's *Burial of the* (1924) is a poignant photogravure print, rendered in warm brown tones on smooth wove paper. Measuring 28.7 x 23 cm overall (with a size of 32.6 x 25.1 cm), this intimate work captures a moment of quiet solemnity, reflecting Bonnard's lifelong fascination with domestic life and the emotional bonds between humans and animals. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's Department of Prints (CG-E), it was generously gifted from the Virginia and Ira Jackson Collection. As a key figure in the Post-Impressionist group Les Nabis, Bonnard was renowned for his luminous colors and patterned compositions in paintings, but here he employs photogravure—a 19th-century intaglio process that translates images from photographic negatives onto etched copper plates. This technique yields exceptionally rich, velvety tones and subtle gradations, bridging photography and fine art printing during the interwar era. Produced in 1924, amid Europe's cultural recovery post-World War I, the print exemplifies Bonnard's shift toward more personal, nostalgic subjects in his mature years. Though modest in scale, *Burial of the Dog* invites reflection on themes of loss and ritual, rendered with Bonnard's characteristic tenderness. Its survival as a high-fidelity print underscores the era's innovative reproductive methods, preserving ephemeral moments for posterity. A gem for print enthusiasts!

About the Artist

Pierre Bonnard · 1867–1947

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...