Autumn View 1912

Pierre Bonnard painted Autumn View in oil on canvas using impressionist techniques. What makes Bonnard so interesting is his willingness to push the medium to its very limit, creating luminous, evocative images that often border on abstraction. In this artwork, the textures are built up through layers of small brushstrokes, creating a vibrant surface. Bonnard’s approach to the paint itself is evident in the richness and depth of the colours he achieves, and in the tactile quality of the canvas. The painting seems to vibrate with life. The artist is exploring the effect of light and atmosphere, and the experience of viewing it is like being immersed in the very air of the scene. The way that Bonnard worked, slowly building up color and form, is a testament to the value of craft traditions in fine art. He prompts us to think about the labor involved in the creation of a painting and the way that the artist's hand can shape and transform the materials into something truly remarkable.