Woman in a Green Dress in a Garden 1892

Pierre Bonnard painted this small canvas, Woman in a Green Dress in a Garden, with oil paint, probably en plein air. The way Bonnard applied the paint—in myriad tiny strokes—is key to its dreamy effect. Note how he used relatively little detail to convey depth, allowing the color to establish the composition. This evokes the sensory experience of being outdoors, and the weight of the atmosphere. Bonnard was associated with the post-Impressionist group Les Nabis, who sought to integrate art and everyday life. The domestic intimacy of this painting is typical of his work, although here it is set outside. With its emphasis on color and surface, Bonnard’s painting is a testament to the material qualities of paint. The emphasis is on immediate experience rather than academic technique, allowing the work to speak with directness and feeling.