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Student Artwork Guide

The Toilet

5 parts 1 The artwork2 In context3 About this artwork4 Artist and museum5 Look closely

Name Class Date
Pierre Bonnard, The Toilet (1908). Public domain.

The facts

Artist
Pierre Bonnard wahooart.com/en/artists/pierre-bonnard/
Artist’s dates
1867 – 1947
Painted
1908
Original size
52 x 45 cm

In context

The Toilet — Pierre Bonnard

How big is it?

The original measures 52 × 45 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height.

When was this painted?

  1. 1860
  2. 1870
  3. 1880
  4. 1890
  5. 1900
  6. 1910
  7. 1920
  8. 1930
  9. 1940

Shaded: the lifetime of Pierre Bonnard (1867–1947) ▲ this work, 1908

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: wahooart.com/en/art/similar/pierre-bonnard-the-toilet-8XYRAS-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Black #0e0a06

    Catalogued palette

    • #0E0A06
    • #A67C51
    • #6D4F31
    • #3B2C19
    Palette
    Earthy The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Black
    Intensity
    Monochromatic How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Gentle How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Unified Palette How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Deep_shadow How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Subtle Color How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    About this artwork

    The Toilet — Pierre Bonnard

    The painting The Toilet by Pierre Bonnard is a beautiful example of Intimism, a style that focuses on intimate domestic scenes. Created in 1908, this oil on panel painting measures 52 x 45 cm and is a stunning representation of the artist's ability to capture light and color.

    The Composition and Subject Matter

    The composition of The Toilet is characteristic of Bonnard's work, with a focus on a woman's reflection in a mirror. The room has a floral wallpaper, adding a touch of nature to the indoor setting. The painting features various objects that contribute to the everyday life depicted in the scene, including a white vase with blue accents and a round plate with a floral pattern. Key elements of the painting include the use of light and color to create a sense of intimacy and warmth. The woman's reflection in the mirror is a masterful touch, allowing the artist to play with the framing of the body and create a sense of depth.

    Artistic Style and Influences

    Bonnard's work was influenced by the Impressionist movement, but he also developed his own unique style. The Toilet is a prime example of this style, with its emphasis on color and light. The painting is also notable for its use of decorative abstraction, which was characteristic of Bonnard's work during this period.

    The Toilet is part of the collection at the Musée d'Orsay

    Pierre Bonnard was a French painter and printmaker

    Intimism was a style that focused on intimate domestic scenes

    Handmade oil painting reproductions of The Toilet are available at /art/list/?Filter=8XYRAS-Pierre-Bonnard-The-Toilet. For more information on Pierre Bonnard and his work, visit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Bonnard.

    The painting The Toilet is a beautiful example of Bonnard's ability to capture the beauty of everyday life. With its emphasis on color and light, it is a must-see for anyone interested in Intimism and French art.

    Artist and museum

    The Toilet — Pierre Bonnard

    Artist

    Pierre Bonnard

    Born in Fontenay-aux-Roses, France

    A Life Bathed in Light: The World of Pierre Bonnard

    Pierre Bonnard, born in 1867 in the Parisian suburb of Fontenay-aux-Roses, wasn’t destined for a life steeped in artistic expression. His father, a high-ranking official in the French Ministry of War, envisioned a legal career for his son. Young Pierre dutifully pursued law studies, earning his license in 1888, but his heart lay elsewhere—in the captivating world of color and form. This duality, this tension between expectation and passion, would subtly inform his artistic journey, lending a unique intimacy to his work. He initially dabbled in caricature, honing an observational skill that would later blossom into exquisitely rendered domestic scenes. However, it was at the Académie Julian where Bonnard truly found his path, encountering kindred spirits who shared his burgeoning rejection of academic conventions and embraced the avant-garde spirit sweeping through Paris. This encounter led him to the Nabis, a group of artists—including Maurice Denis, Paul Sérusier, and Édouard Vuillard—who sought to infuse art with spirituality and symbolism, moving beyond mere representation towards an exploration of inner experience.

    The Nabi Years and the Cultivation of Intimacy

    Bonnard’s association with the Nabis proved pivotal.

    Where to read more

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for The Toilet

    wahooart.com/en/art/download/pierre-bonnard-the-toilet-8XYRAS-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Bonnard, Pierre. The Toilet. 1908, https://wahooart.com/en/art/pierre-bonnard-the-toilet-8XYRAS-en/
    APA
    Bonnard, Pierre (1908). The Toilet [Painting]. https://wahooart.com/en/art/pierre-bonnard-the-toilet-8XYRAS-en/
    Chicago
    Pierre Bonnard. The Toilet. 1908. https://wahooart.com/en/art/pierre-bonnard-the-toilet-8XYRAS-en/
    Harvard
    Bonnard, Pierre (1908) The Toilet. Available at: https://wahooart.com/en/art/pierre-bonnard-the-toilet-8XYRAS-en/

    Look closely

    The Toilet — Pierre Bonnard

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. Look back at Nude (1920), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
    4. Pierre Bonnard was about 41 when this was made. What in it looks like the work of an artist at that stage?
    5. What might the artist have wanted you to feel?

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.