Théâtre de l'Œuvre, for the Playbill of "L'Inspecteur Gèneral Revizor" (The Inspector General) by Nicolai Gogol
1897-1898
Medium
lithograph
Dimensions
image: 3.4 x 3.4 cm (1 5/16 x 1 5/16 in.) sheet: 17.4 x 23.2 cm (6 7/8 x 9 1/8 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Virginia and Ira Jackson Collection
Accession Number
2005.157.2
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
Pierre Bonnard's *Théâtre de l'Œuvre, for thebill of "L'eur Général Revizor" (The Inspector) by Nicolai Gogol (1897–1898) is a delicate lithograph that captures the artist's early flair for decorative design. Created when Bonnard was in his late twenties, this tiny image—measuring just 3.4 x 3.4 cm—served as a vignette for the playbill of a production at Paris's avant-garde Théâtre de l'Œuvre. As a member of the Nabi group, Bonnard drew inspiration from Japanese prints and Symbolism, blending flat patterns, vibrant colors, and intimate scenes in his prints, which were a staple of fin-de-siècle Parisian culture. This work reflects the era's booming theater poster scene, where artists like Bonnard and Toulouse-Lautrec elevated ephemera into fine art through lithography—a technique prized for its bold lines and rich tonal range. Gogol's satirical comedy *The Inspector General*, skewering Russian bureaucracy, found new life in this experimental venue known for innovative, symbolist stagings under director Aurélien Lugné-Poë. Bonnard's compact design likely evokes the play's whimsical intrigue with stylized figures or motifs, showcasing his emerging style of everyday poetry amid theatrical pomp. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's Virginia and Ira Jackson Collection, this print highlights Bonnard's versatility before his mature Post-Impressionist landscapes, offering visitors a glimpse into how art intertwined with popular entertainment in Belle Époque Paris.
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...