Walking at the Lake, Bois de Boulogne
c. 1900
Medium
oil on millboard
Dimensions
overall: 26.7 x 28.6 cm (10 1/2 x 11 1/4 in.) framed: 33.7 x 36.2 x 4.4 cm (13 1/4 x 14 1/4 x 1 3/4 in.)
Classification
Painting
Department
CMC
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon
Accession Number
2006.128.10
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
Step into the sun-dappled serenity of Pierre Bonnard's *Walking at the Lake, Bois de Boulogne* (c. 1900), a charming oil on millboard painting that captures a leisurely stroll in one of Paris's most beloved parks. Bonnard, a leading figure in the Post-Impressionist group Les Nabis, renders the scene with his signature intimacy and joy in everyday moments. The Bois de Boulogne, a sprawling green oasis on the city's edge, was a favored escape for Parisians at the fin de siècle, evoking the era's fascination with nature amid urban bustle. This modest 26.7 x 28.6 cm work exemplifies Bonnard's inn...
About the Artist
Pierre Bonnard
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...