Artwork
Seated Nude
Seated Nude is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Pierre Bonnard. It dates from 1919 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting belongs to the genre of the nude, a recurring subject in Bonnard's oeuvre, and is classified within the broader category of nudity.
Seated Nude by Pierre Bonnard depicts a nude woman, rendered in oil on canvas and dated 1919. The painting belongs to the genre of the nude, a recurring subject in Bonnard's oeuvre, and is classified within the broader category of nudity. Held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the work presents the female figure as its sole subject, with no additional iconographic attributes documented in the available records.
As a study of the unclothed human form, the painting engages with the long-standing artistic tradition of the nude, though the sources provide no further symbolic interpretation, narrative content, or allegorical meaning associated with the depicted figure.
Technique & Style
Seated Nude, created by Pierre Bonnard in 1919, is an oil painting executed on canvas. The work falls within the genre of the nude, depicting a female figure in a seated posture. As an oil-on-canvas composition, the piece relies on the traditional handling of pigments bound in oil to achieve its formal qualities.
The medium allows for the nuanced rendering of the subject's form and the atmospheric effects characteristic of Bonnard's style during this period. The painting is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where its material integrity as an early 20th-century oil work is maintained. The support of canvas provides the necessary ground for the application of the oil paint, facilitating the artist's approach to light and color in this specific depiction of nudity.
History & Provenance
Pierre Bonnard created the oil painting titled Seated Nude in 1919. This work, executed on canvas, depicts a nude woman and falls within the genre of the nude. The specific inception date is recorded as January 1, 1919.
Currently, the painting is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains part of the institution's holdings. The provenance chain indicates that the work was produced by Bonnard in the early 20th century before entering the museum's collection, though specific details regarding intermediate owners or the initial commission are not detailed in the available records.
Pierre Bonnard's 1919 oil painting Seated Nude is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The work, which depicts a nude woman on canvas, has been accessioned by the institution since its inception date recorded as January 1, 1919. While the museum serves as the current location for the piece, the available records do not list specific inventory numbers or detail a history of public exhibitions for this particular work.
Legacy
Pierre Bonnard’s Seated Nude, painted in 1919, is an oil on canvas work classified as a painting within the nude genre. The piece is part of the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, reflecting its recognized importance in Bonnard’s oeuvre and in early‑twentieth‑century French painting. Its creation date of 1919 and material of oil paint are documented in contemporary records, and its inclusion in a major museum highlights a lasting reputation that contributes to ongoing study of the artist’s legacy.
Overview
Pierre Bonnard's "Seated Nude," painted in 1919, is an oil painting depicting a female figure. This work exemplifies the artist's characteristic approach to the human form and interior scenes. It is currently part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, representing a significant period in Bonnard's career and his ongoing exploration of light and color.
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.
