Artwork
Bridge
Bridge is a print by the Impressionist artist Pierre Bonnard. It dates from 1899 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Instead he caught fleeting glances—like friends chatting or vendors at work.
This painting shows a small bridge in a Paris park. Two women stand on it. A third walks away. Trees frame the scene. The park is the Bois de Boulogne.
Bonnard made this as a color lithograph, not a painting. It’s part of a set showing ordinary moments in city life. He avoided famous landmarks. Instead he caught fleeting glances—like friends chatting or vendors at work.
Check out more prints by Pierre Bonnard (French, 1867–1947).
Overview
Bridge is a color lithograph by Pierre Bonnard, part of a suite capturing everyday life in Paris. The print depicts a serene scene of a small bridge in the Bois de Boulogne, a prominent Parisian park, with three women and surrounding trees.
Subject & Meaning
The subject focuses on ordinary, unposed moments of urban life, reflecting Bonnard's preference for humble, neighborhood scenes over iconic landmarks. The bridge setting, with women walking and standing, conveys a sense of everyday tranquility.
Technique & Style
Executed as a color lithograph, the work showcases Bonnard's ability to evoke atmosphere through this medium. Although specifics of the print's technique are not detailed here, Bonnard's lithographic works often explored the interplay of light and color in daily Parisian life.
History & Provenance
Created by Pierre Bonnard (French, 1867–1947), the exact date of 'Bridge' is not specified, but it aligns with his early 20th-century observations of Paris. Provenance details are not provided.
Context
Part of a broader suite, 'Bridge' is contextualized by Bonnard's fascination with the mundane aspects of Parisian life, often observed from his Montmartre studio or through direct engagement with neighborhood activities.
Legacy
As part of Bonnard's lithographic series on Parisian life, 'Bridge' contributes to the artist's legacy of capturing the quiet, intimate moments of modern urban existence, influencing subsequent depictions of everyday life in art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Pierre Bonnard was a French painter, illustrator and printmaker, known especially for the stylized decorative qualities of his paintings and his bold use of color.
