Artwork
Grapes
Grapes is an oil painting by the Les Nabis artist Pierre Bonnard. It dates from 1928 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Pierre Bonnard’s 1928 oil painting titled Grapes presents a simple still‑life composition. A white bowl with a black rim holds a dense cluster of green and orange grapes, set against a uniform red field. The work is part of the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it is displayed among the artist’s later pieces.
Subject & Meaning
The painting focuses on the tactile qualities of fruit, emphasizing the contrast between the cool, varied hues of the grapes and the warm, flat background. By isolating the bowl from any surrounding context, Bonnard invites contemplation of color relationships and the material presence of everyday objects.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the canvas reveals Bonnard’s characteristic loose handling of paint. Visible brushstrokes create a textured surface on the grapes, while the bowl’s form is rendered with minimal detail. The solid red ground, applied in a flat wash, heightens the visual tension between surface and volume.
History & Provenance
Created in 1928, Grapes entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings through acquisition in the mid‑20th century. The painting has remained in the museum’s permanent collection, appearing in several exhibitions that explore Bonnard’s still‑life work and his contributions to early modern French painting.
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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.
