The Letter (La Lettre)

1925

Pierre Bonnard

Associated Names
Pierre Bonnard

Artist, French, 1867 - 1947

The image shows an etching of two figures seated close together at a table. The person on the left leans slightly toward the person on the right, resting their arms on the table. This person has short, dark hair and their facial features appear soft and gentle; they are wearing dark clothing with vertical stripes or lines. The figure on the right is slightly bent over the table, looking down, with shorter, lighter hair and indistinct facial details. They wear a lighter garment, which contrasts with the dark clothing of the other person. Both figures have their arms positioned on the table, engaged with a book or paper in front of them. Behind them is a vertically patterned curtain, adding texture to the background. The composition primarily uses black and white tones.
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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    lithograph in black on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Virginia and Ira Jackson Collection

  • Dimensions

    sheet: 32.4 × 49.2 cm (12 3/4 × 19 3/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2000.180.77

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Bouvet 1981, no. 98, State ii/ii


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Virginia and Ira Jackson, Houston, (stamp, VIJ in square, Lugt undescribed); gift to NGA, 2000.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1981

  • Bouvet, Francis. Bonnard: The Complete Graphic Work. New York: Rizzoli, 1981.

Inscriptions

in image, at left: PB; below image, at right, signed in graphite; below image, at center, in graphite: 1e etat 5 estampes (?) sur chinè

Wikidata ID

Q76355332

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