Artwork
Siesta
Siesta is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Pierre Bonnard. It dates from 1900 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Victoria.
About this work
Overview
The overall atmosphere is one of quiet repose, rendered in a palette of muted browns, beiges, and blues.
Created in 1900, this oil painting by Pierre Bonnard portrays a solitary woman reclining on a bed. The composition is viewed from behind, her nude form resting against a modestly arranged interior that includes a white sheet, a few pillows, a small side table, floral wallpaper, and a striped curtain. The overall atmosphere is one of quiet repose, rendered in a palette of muted browns, beiges, and blues.
Subject & Meaning
The work focuses on an intimate domestic moment, emphasizing the calm and vulnerability of the sleeping figure. By presenting the nude from the back, Bonnard invites contemplation of private space rather than overt sensuality, suggesting a tranquil pause in everyday life.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the painting employs soft, blended brushwork that creates a dreamy, almost tactile surface. Bonnard’s handling of light softens the contours of the body and furnishings, while the restrained colour scheme reinforces the sense of serenity and understated elegance.
History & Provenance
Since its completion, the canvas has entered public collections and is now part of the holdings of the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s early‑20th‑century French painting collection.
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.
