poster advertising France Champagne

Pierre Bonnard designed this champagne advertisement in 1889, published in 1891 when he was just 23. A young woman in flowing dress with cascading curls toasts the viewer with an overflowing glass. The bright yellow background and bold graphics differ dramatically from the soft paintings of his maturity.

The three-color lithograph advertises E. Debray's champagne from Reims. When it appeared on Paris streets, it launched Bonnard's career and introduced him to color lithography. His Japanese-influenced style earned him the nickname "le Nabi japonard." Copies exist at the Bibliothèque nationale de France, MoMA, and other museums.