Bonnard/Matisse: Letters Between Friends [Paperback]

Pierre Bonnard (Author), Henri Matisse (Author), Richard Howard (Translator)

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Beginning with the "Vive la peinture! [Long live painting!]" that Matisse writes to Bonnard, this little volume of correspondence between two artists and friends reveals a common vision about aesthetics and renders their personal and artistic struggles and triumphs. The book includes 23 black-and-white illustrations (including photos taken by Henri Cartier-Bresson) depicting the artists at work and at home, as well as facsimiles of their handwritten correspondence--something to savor in this day of answering machines and electronic mail.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Harry N Abrams (September 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810925338
• ISBN-13: 978-0810925335
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.2 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #469,630 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars find out what they shared!, January 12, 2010

By 

Winston hough "klee fan" (Glenview, Il. United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Bonnard/Matisse: Letters Between Friends (Paperback)

I enjoyed reading these letters. Bonnard told Matisse he couldn't work like Matisse. They both talk about their interest in windows.The difficulty of getting together in war time. They both aided each other with enthusiasm for painting.Matisse visited Bonnard at Le Cannet at Bonnard's studio.His studio is at the top of a hill ..mountain.I went to Le Cannet to try and see his place but, I would have had to cross private property.The Tobacconist on Bonnard Avenue told me where it was.It is an area where wealthy people live.There is a letter that Matisse wrote saying that Bonnard is a GREAT ARTIST.The letters encompass many years, when Klee died in 1940 Matisse told Bonnard , an artist of great sensitivity has died.Bonnard was modest about his abilities . Bonnard was older than Matisse . They had similar backgrounds, socially and educationally. Both studied the law.Both worked in Illustration,creating some of the greatest illustrated books of the 20th century.Both revered Renoir.For an intimate view of the minds of two of France's greatest artist read these letters.I found it worthwhile . Especially on their discussion of "windows".