Bonnard and Japan exhibition at the Hôtel de Caumont 

The long-awaited exhibition Bonnard and Japan, which opens on 03 May 2024 at the Hôtel de Caumon, offers an unprecedented exploration of the profound influence of Japan on the work of the celebrated French painter Pierre Bonnard. Highlighting the encounter between Japanese aesthetics and Western art at the turn of the twentieth century, it reveals how Bonnard, through his travels and interactions with Japanese art, integrated the motifs, techniques and perspectives of this tradition into his own artistic language.

You will have the opportunity to admire a carefully chosen selection of Bonnard's iconic works, alongside Japanese prints and Asian artefacts that fed his imagination. Through paintings, drawings, prints and decorative objects, the exhibition highlights the recurring themes of intimacy, nature and everyday life that marked Bonnard's work, while revealing their resonance with Japanese motifs and concepts.

By highlighting the parallels between the two artistic traditions and exploring how Bonnard incorporated these influences into his own distinctive style, this exhibition offers an enriching experience for art lovers and the curious alike. It also offers a fascinating look at the cultural exchanges and cross-fertilisations that shaped the artistic landscape of the early twentieth century.

The Bonnard and Japan exhibition at the Hôtel de Caumont therefore promises to be an unforgettable artistic journey, offering visitors a fresh perspective on the work of one of the great masters of modern painting and on the complex dynamics of cultural exchange between East and West.