This exquisite lithograph by Pierre Bonnard (1867–1947), titled Sans titre (Untitled), from the album Pierre Bonnard, Correspondances, originates from the 1944 edition published by Editions de la Revue Verve, Paris, under the direction of Teriade, Editeur, Paris; printed by Draeger Freres, Maitres-Imprimeurs, Paris, August 1944. Sans titre reflects Bonnard’s intimate graphic language, combining delicate line and quiet lyricism that echoes the personal and reflective character of the correspondence rendered throughout the album.
Executed as a lithograph on velin d'Arches paper, mounted on velin d'Arches backing sheet as issued, this work measures 12.375 x 8.625 inches (31.43 x 21.91 cm), overall; 8.6 x 6.4 inches (21.84 x 16.26 cm), image. Signed in the plate and unnumbered as issued.
Artwork Details:
Artist: Pierre Bonnard (1867–1947)
Title: Sans titre (Untitled), from Pierre Bonnard, Correspondances
Medium: Lithograph on velin d'Arches paper, mounted on velin d'Arches backing sheet as issued
Dimensions: 12.375 x 8.625 inches (31.43 x 21.91 cm), overall; 8.6 x 6.4 inches (21.84 x 16.26 cm), image
Inscription: Signed in the plate and unnumbered as issued
Date: 1944
Publisher: Editions de la Revue Verve, Paris
Printer: Draeger Freres, Maitres-Imprimeurs, Paris
Catalogue Raisonne: Terrasse, A., Bonnard illustre ir: catalogue raisonne, Paris, 1988, pages 286-297
Condition: Well preserved, consistent with age and medium
Provenance: From the album Pierre Bonnard, Correspondances, 1944
Notes:
Excerpted from the album (translated from French), This album, composed entirely by Pierre Bonnard, contains youth letters, illustrated especially by the artist with pen and pencil drawings. The manuscript has been completed printing on the presses of the Master Printers, Draeger Freres, in August 1944, for the Editions de la Revue Verve. It was drawn: M examples on velin d'Arches made especially for the album, numbered from I to M; the first XXXV examples with a sequel on Chine and XXV non-commercial examples, numbered from I to XXV.
About the Publication:
Pierre Bonnard, Correspondances, published in 1944 by Editions de la Revue Verve in Paris under the direction of Teriade and printed by Draeger Freres, stands as an important wartime publication within the distinguished Verve program of illustrated art editions. Conceived as an intimate presentation of Bonnard’s early letters accompanied by drawings created by the artist, the album merges literary reflection with visual expression in a format characteristic of the great French art albums of the mid twentieth century. Teriade, one of the most influential art publishers of the era, collaborated with leading artists and master printers to produce refined graphic publications that bridged the worlds of literature, painting, and printmaking. Correspondances belongs to this tradition, presenting Bonnard’s personal documents and imagery within an elegantly produced edition on velin d'Arches papers that reflects the technical excellence and cultural ambition of the Verve publishing enterprise.
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.
Pierre Bonnard Sans titre Pierre Bonnard Correspondances 1944 lithograph Verve modern art.
