Evening star., 1945-04-01
By Leila MechHn

Dy LtIU A CHb'"
The exhibition of paintings by
Pierre Bonnard, which opened in the
Phillips Memorial Gallery a fort
night aSo to continue until the end
of April, is especially well timed
Out of doors the beautiful season
of spring is upon us with all its sea-
sonal implications of life out OF
death-reaWakened nature, warm
sunshine, still pale and colorful
blossoms. 1t is to themes OF this
order and their faithful transcript
ton that the French painter Bon
nard has chiefly devoted himself
Entering the gallery, in which II OF
his characteristic canvases are hung,
the visitor cannot fail to feel the
harmony of the two-nature, art.
Bonnard is one of the few artists
who seems to gain by aggregation,
but he also suffers when forced into
comparison with others who see dlf-
ferently. It is only through seeing
his works grouped, as here now, that
the full measure of his gift and sin
cerity can be truly estimated. Be
cause he paints in a high Key ana
concerns himself with effects rather
than obvious facts, he may be
thought an impressionist, but he
actually is of no school. To the
contrary, he is an independent, fol-
lowing solely his own incllnatlons,
recreating that which has been re-
vealed to him and by which he has
been touched and deeply moved.
As technician he does not excel
the medium he employs he appar-
emily regards merely as means to an
end-that being effect as he has
seen it. The late Hamilton Mabie
author and editor, once said teat
art was the open window In the
workshop, fact which Bonnard has
demonstrated in his various and
varied works. One of the most i'm
portant paintings now on view IN
the Bonnard collection is entitled
1.-THE Open Window common
place subject but full Of beauty and
significance.
Ualiness Into Beauty
It is in his Interpretation of light
and air that Bonnard attalns TO
special distinction-recreating IN MS
canvases the magic of their power
to transform ugliness to beauty, 10
this all else-people, thdngs-seemeo
to have been made subservient. Oc-
casionally in his paintings he intro
duces dogs and cats, but one has a
suspicion that, in most instances,
they have been brought in to supply
reason for a dark or perhaps light
spot in a particular place to ADD
accent or to balance the composition
Bonnard's palette is comparatively
limited, gray greens aboundlns
almost invariably enriched, however
by a judicious use OF bright req
which is very enlivening. His brush
strokes are broad and at times ap-
pear a bit clumsy, but they do IN
variably convey the impression that
he has received and wished to pass
on. There is no self-consciouSness
in his works, no bid for popular
favor, but instead complete absorb
ton in that which he strives to
create-or recreate-in order that
others may share with him his dis
covery of beauty.
At times decorative note Is given
emphasis-as, for instance, In 1.-The
Palm" painted undoubtedly on the
Riviera, in which an extensive land
scape is seen under arching palm
branches which frame it in and
measure it's extent-a dramatic pres
entation. This is hung at the end
of the gallery where the Renoir
Luncheon of the Boating Party" so
long hung-an impressive placement
Mr.. Phillips began collecting the
works of Bonnard very shortly after
the Phillips Memorial Gallery was
established and his estimate OF
worth made then has been fully
justified. The gallery owns all II
works now on exhibition. In his
book, "A Collection in the Making, u
published in 1925, Mr.. Phillips called
attention to a certain affinity of
Bonnard to Debussy-an affinity
which still exists and In general
is being better understood.
Paintings That Haze Stood
The Test of Time
In some respects the small gal
lery has advantages over the big
museum in affording an atmosphere
of informality and permitting the
frequent shifting Of exhibits. Since
the most noted paintings In the
Phillips collection have been re-
turned from their seclusion Of war
time all of the galleries have been
rearranged more than once.
To see again these old friends In
happy company is a genuine de-
light. The great Renoir is now in
the music room on the first floor
Daumier's Uprising" In the recep-
ton room to the left Of the en-
trance. Three lovely paintings In