Details — Click to read
“La Porte-fenetre” (French windows) is an etching, done in 1927. The platemark measures 7-1/8 x 4-3/4″. This impression is unsigned, as are all known impressions. It was commissioned by Charles Terrasse and printed by the artist and his assistants in 6 trial proofs only, this on a sheet of soft, cream Japanese laid paper that measures 9-7/8 x 6-7/8″. The image was never editioned. References for this image include Bouvet 106 i/i; National Gallery 2000.180.90.
In his classic post-Impressionist fashion, Pierre Bonnard presents “La Porte-fenetre” as a dreamy, summery interior with an opened set of French windows, a small Dachshund seated at the entry and a garden in the background. It is roughly based on his painting of 1927, titled “La Porte-fenetre avec chien”. Apparently, Bonnard owned six successive dachshunds, all named Poucette, which in French means something like “Thumbelina” or “Little Thumb.”
An extremely rare proof from a plate originally created for publication in his grand-nephew Charles Terrasse’s deluxe book on the artist. Cataloger Francis Bouvet records only 6 trial proof impressions, three impressions printed on white wove paper, another three on cream Japanese laid, of which this is one. The plate was not used and no edition appears to have been printed. The plate was canceled.
Bonnard print cataloger Bouvet notes: “It was rejected by the painter and was replaced by the engraving “Errand-girls; for this reason, no more than a few trial proofs were printed.“
