Fruit Bowl 1914

Here’s Bonnard’s ‘Fruit Bowl,’ oil on canvas, dimensions roughly 46 by 37.5 cm. The strokes are soft, almost as if he’s caressing the canvas, and the colours…well, they’re doing their own dance! Look at the texture. It’s like Bonnard is inviting you to touch it, to feel the weight of the fruit. The orange in the centre practically vibrates, doesn't it? But it’s not just about the fruit; it’s about the whole experience. The way the light bounces off the bowl, the shadows playing on the tablecloth – it all comes together to create this feeling of warmth, like a summer afternoon. Notice the mark making on the tablecloth; see how he’s used red and blue to create shadows and depth? Bonnard, like Vuillard, knew how to make painting feel alive, immediate. It’s about the ambiguity of art, the way it can hold so many possibilities. Enjoy the mystery, and let the painting speak to you.