PIERRE BONNARD, TIME STANDS STILL
Karl Lagerfeld’s Spring-Summer 2011 Ready-to-Wear campaign is a nod to the work of the French artist Pierre Bonnard.
One of the Nabi group of artists at the turn of the 20th-century, Bonnard is celebrated for his scenes bathed in sunlight, his luminous colors, and his portrayal of everyday life in both interior and exterior settings.
Nudes in the bathtub, ladies taking a nap, and tables set in the garden – Karl Lagerfeld places his models in bold settings, where black and white enhance the appearance of color. The designer plays with the effects of the painter’s chosen technique. In the same quest for luminosity, he infuses his photographs with bursts of light, scattering the images with dashes of color.
Lush nature and languid poses capture the dreamlike feel of Bonnard’s work, an artist for whom time has stood still.
Painting by Pierre Bonnard, La terrasse à Vernonnet (1939), oil on canvas, Metropolitan Museum of Art – New York City (USA) – © Adagp, Paris 2011
Photo by Karl Lagerfeld, Spring-Summer 2011 Ready-to-Wear campaign
