Nature Morte

Émile Bernard, a French Post-Impressionist artist, was a representative of the late 19th-century “Synthetism” and “Cloisonnism.” He gradually shifted from the broken brushstrokes of Impressionism to a flattened style outlined with dark contours, profoundly influencing the development of modern art. Bernard was a close friend with Gauguin and Van Gogh; after they met in 1886, they jointly explored new painting expressions. Nature Morte showcases the mature appearance of his Cloisonnist approach. Green vines frame the flowers in the vase, while the tilted perspective and thick paint reveal the influence of his friend Cézanne; bold dark outlines and simplified color forms constitute the two main hallmarks of his work. These stylistic features also significantly inspired Gauguin’s creations.