Two Elegant Ladies, Place de Clichy 1905

Pierre Bonnard made this painting of two elegant ladies at Place de Clichy with oil on canvas, though the date is unknown. Look at the flurry of marks, all directions at once. It’s like Bonnard is trying to catch a glimpse of something fleeting, some of those impressionistic vibes. The way the paint is applied, thin in places, thick in others, gives the piece a real sense of movement, like the city itself is breathing. Notice the woman on the right, her coat is this mix of blues and yellows that almost feels unfinished, yet so alive. It reminds me of Vuillard, but with more of a direct, almost brutal honesty. It's like Bonnard is saying, "Here's what I saw, take it or leave it," and in that, there's a real beauty, isn't there? Art, like life, is an ongoing exchange, a conversation of ideas.