Artwork
The Dessert
The Dessert is an unspecified painting by the Les Nabis artist Pierre Bonnard. It dates from 1921 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
As a painting classified within the artist's oeuvre, it exemplifies Bonnard's approach to capturing domestic intimacy through color and light.
Created in 1921, The Dessert is an oil painting on canvas by Pierre Bonnard. The work measures 76.2 cm in height and 80.0 cm in width, executed in France during the artist's mature period. As a painting classified within the artist's oeuvre, it exemplifies Bonnard's approach to capturing domestic intimacy through color and light.
The piece is currently held by the Cleveland Museum of Art, having entered their collection in 1949 via a provenance that includes the galleries of Paul Pétridès and Paul Rosenberg.
History & Provenance
The Dessert was painted by Pierre Bonnard in 1921 in France. The work subsequently passed through several ownerships before entering the Cleveland Museum of Art. Its documented ownership chain includes Henry Kapférer, Marcel Kapferer, the dealer Paul Rosenberg, and the gallery Galerie Paul Pétridès, after which it was acquired by the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is held under accession number 1949.18.
No information is available in the provided sources regarding the circumstances of the painting's commission, its initial patron, or the specific dates of the intermediate transfers between the listed owners.
Pierre Bonnard's 1921 painting The Dessert is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland, Ohio. The work bears the museum's accession number 1949.18. Its provenance includes ownership by Henry Kapférer and Marcel Kapférer, as well as dealers Galerie Paul Pétridès and Paul Rosenberg, before entering the museum's collection in 1949. The painting was created in France.
Context
Pierre Bonnard painted The Dessert in 1921, a work reflecting his mature style during the interwar period. The painting entered a distinguished European collection chain including Henry Kapférer, Marcel Kapferer, Galerie Paul Pétridès, and Paul Rosenberg before Cleveland Museum of Art acquisition. Its inclusion in the museum's holdings was documented in 1949, establishing its significance within Bonnard's oeuvre and post-impressionist still life traditions.
Overview
Pierre Bonnard’s 1921 oil painting titled The Dessert is part of the collection at the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work depicts an interior scene in which a couple is seated at a modestly furnished table, illuminated by a single candle. The composition balances muted tones with vivid accents, creating an intimate domestic atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas presents a man and a woman engaged in quiet conversation. The woman, dressed in an orange dress, rests her hand on her cheek, while the man, in a dark jacket and light shirt, appears attentive. The setting, a simple table with a white cloth, plates, and a candle, suggests a private, leisurely moment, emphasizing personal connection over narrative drama.
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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.
