The Square at Evening (Place le soir)

1897-1898

The first decade of Pierre Bonnard’s career was largely defined by his graphic output, from posters and playbills to suites such as Some Aspects of Parisian Life, published by Ambroise Vollard. In the suite’s twelve prints, four of which are shown here, the artist intentionally focused on familiar occurrences and the day-to-day reality of urban life rather than famous landmarks, portraying a Paris that is both intimate and expansive. Such Parisian street views stem from a long tradition of French printmaking, yet Bonnard’s versions of the bustling city are strikingly modern. Using a sophisticated palette and abstracted forms that seem to collapse near and far space, he captured the crowded anonymity and momentary encounters and glimpses that define urban life.