Artwork
The Costermonger
The Costermonger 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
Overview
The Costermonger is a color lithograph from a suite of prints capturing everyday Parisian life. It depicts a fruit vendor pushing a cart down a street, viewed from behind.
Subject & Meaning
The print is one of several in the series that focus on ordinary urban scenes, such as street vendors and neighborhood strolls, rather than famous landmarks. It reflects Bonnard's interest in the daily lives of ordinary people.
Technique & Style
As a lithograph, The Costermonger showcases Bonnard's skill with printmaking. The soft colors used in the print evoke a sense of nostalgia or memory, and contrast with the textured, everyday scene depicted.
Context
The print is part of a larger series that explores the urban life of late 19th or early 20th century Paris, a city Bonnard knew well from his studio in Montmartre.
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.
