Les Bretonneries - Émile Bernard

A 1889 zincograph by Émile Bernard, featuring two scenes of Breton life rendered in the distinctive Cloisonnist style with bold outlines and flattened forms.

This zincograph by Émile Bernard, dated 1889, captures the essence of the artist's time in Pont-Aven. Bernard was a central figure in the development of Cloisonnism, a style defined by bold forms separated by dark contours. This print presents two distinct scenes from Breton life, reflecting the artist's interest in regional customs and the simplification of visual elements. The upper section depicts women engaged in agricultural labour, specifically the making of haystacks. The composition relies on flattened planes and heavy outlines, which remove the need for traditional modelling or perspective. The lower section portrays a wedding scene, where figures in traditional Breton attire are gathered under trees. The focus remains on the silhouettes of the participants, particularly the distinctive headwear worn by the women. Bernard's approach here demonstrates his departure from the naturalistic techniques of his contemporaries. By reducing the visual information to essential shapes and dark, graphic marks, he creates a rhythmic arrangement of figures. The work serves as a record of the rural traditions of Brittany, viewed through the lens of a modern aesthetic that prioritised decorative clarity over realistic representation. The stark contrast between the black ink and the paper surface emphasises the graphic quality of the print, making it a clear example of the experimental printmaking practices common among the Pont-Aven school during the late nineteenth century.