Pierre Bonnard - Tate Modern Exhibition

Pierre Bonnard

The Color of Memory

Exhibition at Tate Modern

What struck me immediately about Bonnard's work was his incredible use of color. Despite knowing that this is what made him famous, I had failed to grasp the reality of his work until I saw it in the flesh. This exhibition was an absolute joy to visit and left me with a feeling of wanting to learn so much more about how to execute colors together harmoniously. It shocked me how when observed closely, many of Bonnard's paintings contained literally every color one could imagine, and yet somehow they all work cohesively together. I was in awe really.

After observing his paintings I felt so inspired to finesse my own practice with color (which I must admit has been one of my struggles). I intend to try and look to his paintings as somewhat of a guide, extracting maybe one, two, or a few of his colors and incorporate them into my own work in some of my color studies etc. and see how this turns out.

I specifically find his use of reds, oranges, and yellows remarkable. The colors appear warm, rich and vivid. Although his paintings are mainly bright, light and warm, many of them fell as though there is an underlying melancholy expression to them.

His fascination with light and his ability to capture it is mesmerizing. Many of his splotches of colors  within his landscapes are too vivid and too beautiful to feel real, as if they are an enhanced of dreamlike version of reality. I love them.

The way he uses color for highlight and shadow is fascinating. For example, his use of lilac and deep purple for highlight and shadow in this painting above. His brushwork demonstrating a loose and lush quality to it. I also found it interesting the way he would often position things at the forefront of the canvas that you almost wouldn't notice at first glance, like a cat or this fence above. Compositionally this works really well i think.

I enjoyed his varying use of texture, which is emphasized through his loose brush strokes. It is interesting how some of his paintings almost appear flattened, like this one above, giving an interesting perspective on something as normal as a table. I love how he almost uses abstract geometric shapes here.

I noticed in some paintings of women he would use warm and fleshy tones portraying a sort of lust and passionate feel, while others where painted very cool and often felt if anything the opposite of sexual and very frank.