Twee Bretonse vrouwen en een man op een boot 1889

Émile Bernard made this print, “Two Breton Women and a Man on a Boat,” with graphite, brush, and ink. Bernard was a Post-Impressionist painter, associated with the Pont-Aven School, a group of artists who, like Bernard, turned to Brittany, in France, as a place that represented tradition in the face of modernity. By the late 19th century, Brittany had become an object of artistic fascination, often seen as a refuge from the industrializing world, though this was a romanticized view that overlooked the economic hardships of the region. Bernard, along with artists like Gauguin, sought to capture what they perceived as the authentic spirit of Breton life. In this print, the somber mood and simplified forms reflect the Symbolist aesthetic, emphasizing emotional and spiritual experience over realistic depiction. To better understand this print, consider the ways in which regional cultures are often romanticized in art and the complex interplay between tradition, modernity, and artistic representation. Research into the Pont-Aven School and the cultural history of Brittany will offer more insight.