Critique of Bonnard's Work

This first image is Bonnard's The Open Window, a work completed in 1921. Part of what appeals to me about this piece is Bonnard's impressionistic style. It isn't overly realistic, but it doesn't have to be. In fact, if it were realistic, I feel that it would have less impact. What really catches my attention are the vertical bars of brown and blue. There's something about the contrast, and the way in which the two colors compliment each other, that really appeals to me. There's a sense of contentedness about this piece, as evidenced by the predominantly warm colors and the soft edges and images. It's almost refreshing to see this sort of artwork.

Here we have Bonnard's Dining Room on the Garden, completed on 1935. Although its images are not so unlike The Open Window, the work has an entirely different feel. For one, the majority of the colors in this piece are cool blues, greens and violets. Even some of the reds have a cool feel. What's more, unlike The Open Window, this painting features an image of a woman, probably Marthe, half-hidden in the upper right corner. Even though she has a smile on her face, there's something dark, almost spectral, about her presence there. It seems to show how Marthe controlled so much of Bonnard's life and that his relationship with her, albeit loving, was somewhat strained. It's a more somber piece than The Open Window, and that gives the work its own appeal.

This final piece is La Sieste Au Jardin, completed in 1914. This painting is considerably more realistic than The Open Window or Dining Room on the Garden or almost all of the pieces I saw during my search. The woman (again, most likely Marthe) is more tangible here than the woman in Dining Room on the Garden. This seems to represent the fact that, at this point, Bonnard felt less pressured by his wife. Or it could be a mistress of his. Only Bonnard could tell us for sure, and he can't, for obvious reasons. My personal appreciation for nature is what caught my eye. This work contrasts with Bonnard's other works, as I mentioned before, in that it is significantly more realistic, reminiscent in some respects of pre-modern landscape art. I appreciate this kind of art, more for the calm, peaceful scenes it portrays than any deeper meaning. The simplicity of it portrays a sense of innocence and tranquility, and everyone needs that in their life sometime.