On the Track

Pierre Bonnard completed this On the Track in 1895, capturing a scene from the world of horse racing. The work belongs to his early period as a founding member of Les Nabis, the Post-Impressionist group of avant-garde painters who sought to express personal vision through color and form. The small panel measures 42.3 x 27.5 cm.

Bonnard (1867-1947) was both a painter and printmaker who helped bridge 19th-century Impressionism and 20th-century modernism. His work from this period shows the influence of Japanese woodblock prints in its flattened perspective and decorative qualities. The racing subject connects to contemporary works like "At the Races, Longchamp" from 1894.

The painting demonstrates Bonnard's interest in modern leisure activities and urban life, subjects the Nabis explored alongside their more symbolic and decorative work. It's currently held in a private collection. Bonnard would later become famous for his intimate domestic scenes and his mastery of luminous color, but this early work shows his development within the context of Post-Impressionist experimentation.