Short summary of their history, art, and their role in the evolution of painting in the twentieth century, with copious links to articles here.
Vuillard
What became of those who had been Nabis in the early 20th century? These four never completely abandoned their Nabi roots, as seen in their paintings.
After 1895, their styles and themes diverged, with Japonisme popular, and motifs ranging from the streets of Paris to the great waves of the Brittany coast.
Paintings from 1893-95 feature predominantly women, and explore the theme of womanhood. Bonnard, Vuillard, Sérusier and others.
Flattened perspective, muted colours, and decorative patterning: some of the characteristics of the early Nabi years.
Paul Gauguin inspired and launched the Nabis during the late 1880s at Pont-Aven. They first exhibited in 1889, and published their manifesto in 1890, by which time he had moved onto another project.
His enigmatic paintings of interiors appear cinematic in their composition and lighting, akin to those of cinematographers of the future, not painters of the past.
Popular in the early Renaissance, it was revived by William Blake, the Nabis, and a few others. Despite its disadvantages, these are wonderful paintings.
With his chroma increasing all the time, he took to a series of classical myths, set on French beaches. Later his paintings became more devotional.
One of the co-founders of Les Nabis, many of his paintings are religious in theme. He was also a fan of Cézanne, and painted a major homage to him.
