The Red Garter 1904

Pierre Bonnard made this small painting called The Red Garter with oil on canvas. Looking at the brushwork, it’s clear that Bonnard wasn’t trying to hide the process. Each stroke is like a little thought, laid down one after another to build the whole image. The color palette feels intimate, like a memory. Bonnard wasn’t aiming for a perfect representation, but more for a feeling. The way he contrasts the darks of the stocking with the lighter skin tones creates a quiet tension. Look at the way the paint is applied in the dark areas, almost like he was sculpting with the brush. It makes you wonder, what was Bonnard thinking about? This piece reminds me a little of Vuillard, another painter of intimate domestic scenes. But Bonnard has his own way of leaving things open, allowing for multiple readings.