The Toilet 1932

Pierre Bonnard likely created this painting known as ‘The Toilet’ sometime in the early 20th century, though the exact date remains unknown. What’s striking here is the intimacy of the scene. Bonnard’s interiors often focused on domestic life, reflecting the cultural shifts occurring in France at the time. The rise of the middle class brought with it a new emphasis on privacy and comfort within the home. The bathing woman, her body rendered with a casual lack of idealization, represents a move away from the formal, public nudes of academic painting and a turn toward a more modern sensibility. Bonnard was associated with the Nabis, a group interested in decorative arts and challenging the traditional hierarchy of genres. To fully understand Bonnard’s work, it helps to delve into exhibition history and period reviews to examine the critical reception and social context in which paintings like this one were first seen. It's a reminder that art's meaning is shaped by the institutions and discourses that surround it.