The Nymphs - Émile Bernard

A 1889 woodcut by Émile Bernard, featuring two figures rendered in the bold, flat-colour style of the Cloisonnist movement.

This woodcut by Émile Bernard, dated 1889, captures the stylistic shift occurring in late nineteenth-century French art. Bernard was a central figure in the development of Cloisonnism, a method defined by bold forms separated by dark contours. This technique draws inspiration from stained glass and Japanese ukiyo-e prints, prioritising flat areas of colour over traditional modelling or perspective. The composition features two figures standing within a simplified, decorative environment. The heavy, expressive outlines define the anatomy of the nymphs, while the background remains largely abstract. The use of a restricted palette, dominated by golden yellow, muted blue, and soft pink, creates a sense of stillness. The inclusion of stylised floral elements at the base of the figures adds to the rhythmic, almost graphic quality of the work. Bernard’s approach here reflects his rejection of Impressionist naturalism in favour of a more synthetic, symbolic representation. By reducing the visual information to essential shapes and lines, he directs the viewer toward the decorative potential of the image. The work is a clear example of the experimental printmaking practices that emerged from the Pont-Aven school, where artists sought to move beyond the literal depiction of the world. The woodcut medium itself contributes to the starkness of the image, as the grain and the carving process influence the final appearance of the lines. This piece remains a representative example of the transition toward modernism, where the artist’s subjective vision takes precedence over objective observation.