This exquisite lithograph by Pierre Bonnard (1867–1947), titled Le petit-dejeuner (The Breakfast), from Verve, Revue Artistique et Litteraire, Vol. II, No. 5–6, originates from the 1939 issue published by Editions de la revue Verve, Paris, under the direction of Teriade, Editeur, Paris, and printed by Mourlot Freres, Paris, 1939. This intimate composition exemplifies Bonnard’s luminous color harmonies and poetic sensitivity, transforming a simple domestic scene into a radiant meditation on light, texture, and atmosphere. Le petit-dejeuner reflects the artist’s mastery of translating everyday life into emotional and sensory experience, capturing the quiet beauty of the modern interior with a painterly lyricism that is uniquely his own.
Executed as a lithograph on velin du Marais paper, this work measures 14 x 10.5 inches. Unsigned and unnumbered as issued. The edition exemplifies the superb craftsmanship of the Mourlot Freres atelier, renowned for its collaborations with leading modern artists of the 20th century.
Artwork Details:
Artist: Pierre Bonnard (1867–1947)
Title: Le petit-dejeuner (The Breakfast), from Verve, Vol. II, No. 5–6, 1939
Medium: Lithograph on velin du Marais paper
Dimensions: 14 x 10.5 inches
Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered as issued
Date: 1939
Publisher: Editions de la revue Verve, Paris, under the direction of Teriade, Editeur, Paris
Printer: Mourlot Freres, Paris
Condition: Well preserved, consistent with age and medium
Provenance: From Verve, Revue Artistique et Litteraire, Vol. II, No. 5–6, published by Editions de la revue Verve, Paris, 1939
About the Publication:
Verve, Revue Artistique et Litteraire was one of the most influential art periodicals of the 20th century, founded in Paris in 1937 by the visionary Greek-born publisher Teriade (Stratis Eleftheriades). Conceived as a synthesis of art and literature, Verve brought together the greatest modern artists and writers of its time—Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Georges Braque, Joan Miro, Fernand Leger, and others—alongside poets and philosophers such as Paul Eluard, Albert Camus, and Jean-Paul Sartre. Each issue was a work of art in itself, luxuriously printed by master lithographers such as Mourlot Freres and produced in collaboration with leading typographers and designers. Verve became a platform for avant-garde creativity, publishing original lithographs and essays that reflected the evolving spirit of modernism. Matisse collaborated closely with Teriade from the magazine's inception, producing some of its most iconic issues, including those devoted to his paper cut-outs. The final Verve issue of 1958, which featured La Tristesse du Roi and the Nu Bleu series, stands as a testament to Matisse's enduring genius and to the publication's legacy as the definitive meeting of art, poetry, and printing craftsmanship in 20th-century France.
About the Artist:
Pierre Bonnard (1867–1947) was a French painter, printmaker, illustrator, and founding member of the Nabis group whose luminous color, emotional sensitivity, and innovative approach to composition made him one of the most important and enduring figures in modern art. Born in Fontenay-aux-Roses near Paris, Bonnard first studied law before turning to painting at the Academie Julian, where he joined forces with Maurice Denis, Paul Serusier, and Edouard Vuillard to form Les Nabis—a group dedicated to infusing painting with spirituality, symbolism, and decorative harmony. Influenced by Paul Gauguin’s expressive color, Japanese ukiyo-e prints, and the structural clarity of Paul Cezanne, Bonnard developed a uniquely personal style that transformed ordinary domestic interiors, still lifes, and landscapes into glowing meditations on light, memory, and emotion. His paintings evoke the poetry of everyday life through vibrant, atmospheric layers of color and a rhythmic sense of composition that transcends mere representation. Living and working amid the Parisian avant-garde, Bonnard was part of the creative dialogue with Alexander Calder, Alberto Giacometti, Salvador Dali, Joan Miro, Wassily Kandinsky, Marcel Duchamp, and Man Ray—artists who, like him, revolutionized 20th-century art through bold experimentation and personal expression. Though independent of Cubism and Surrealism, Bonnard’s devotion to color and perception profoundly influenced later generations, inspiring Henri Matisse, Mark Rothko, David Hockney, Richard Diebenkorn, and Wayne Thiebaud, among others, who admired his ability to merge emotion, light, and form into timeless visual harmony. His works remain prized by collectors and institutions worldwide for their radiant intimacy and enduring beauty. Bonnard’s highest auction record was achieved by Terrasse a Vernon (1918), which sold for £19,681,250 (approximately $24.6 million) at Christie’s, London, on March 1, 2019.
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