The Docks at Deauville 1925

Pierre Bonnard made this little watercolour of The Docks at Deauville with a sensitivity to place and process. Look at his marks; they’re like gentle whispers on paper. The texture is soft, almost like a memory. Bonnard wasn’t trying to capture every detail. Instead, he lets the colours bleed and the lines blur, creating an emotional landscape. See how the pale blues and greens of the water blend with the muted tones of the buildings? It feels like a hazy summer day by the sea. Focus on the way the masts of the boats reach up into the sky. It’s a simple gesture, but it brings the whole composition together. Bonnard reminds me a bit of Morandi, who shares that interest in the poetry of everyday life. Like all great art, Bonnard’s work is an invitation to slow down, breathe, and find beauty in the simplest of things.