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Sunday, September 14, 2014

Bonnard Painting and what I like in terms of Quality and Value



This Pierre Bonnard painting that I chose to evaluate is called "The Breakfast Room" that was painted in 1930-31. What I really find interesting in this painting is the color contrast between the outside and the inside. On the outside, it looks to be bright, hopeful, and filled with wonder. On the inside, however, it's dark, a little dreary and just plain sad. In the corner there stands Bonnard's wife, inspiration and muse, Marthe de Méligny. In the book The Accidental Masterpiece, it describes her as being paranoid, sick all the time, not very into the outside (she would take an umbrella whenever she went out to hide herself), and domineering over Bonnard because she didn't want him having any life/affairs with anyone but her. I believe that this painting is very symbolical for that description because it shows Marthe turned away from the outside and is against the dark corners looking depressed. The book also described Bonnard's affairs with two other women and how he would always go about the house (or world that he created for him and his wife), writing or sketching ideas or what he observes and stuffs it in his coat jacket. So, I could infer the painting adds that significance and symbolism in play by showing Bonnard's longing for the outside. To be free. To experience what he thought he never could accomplish. But he is confined to a villa on the southeastern side of France by his muse/crazy ass wife who was afraid people were going to steal his ideas. The painting overall is very tender as most of Bonnard's works are, very conceptualizing in ideas like house arrest, ongoing pain, and the desire of breaking free. Magnificent work.

1 comment:

  1. Really well done. You find a lot in the painting, and you find the autobiographical aspects of the man in his work. Great.

    Scene?

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