Interior Worlds

"Inspired by Paul Gauguin in the last decade of the nineteenth century, the Nabi painters saw themselves as prophets of a new art. While stylistically diverse, the group's members, including Pierre Bonnard and Édouard Vuillard as well as Maurice Denis, Félix, Vallotton, Aristide Maillol, Ker-Xavier Roussel, and Paul Ranson, shared a belief in art's intimate connection to everyday life. They worked across disciplines and media, experimenting with painting, ceramics, stained glass, textiles, theatrical sets and costumes, and more to break down the artificial barriers between the fine and decorative arts. The Nabis were also prolific printmakers, and their lithographs, poster designs, book illustrations, theater programs, and contributions to the literary journals, or 'little reviews,' that proliferated in Paris at the fin de siècle were a major part of their practice. This vibrantly illustrated book showcases rarely seen paintings, prints, and works of decorative art by these vi sionary artists, all from the holdings of Vicki and Roger Sant, dedicated collectors with a keen eye for exquisite examples of the Nabi aesthetic. Using the Sants' collection as a spring-board, leading scholars of European modernism have contributed texts exploring the relationship between Nabi art and intimacy, the role of the Nabi movement in formulating modernist art theory, the influence of Symbolist poetry and literature, and the Nabis' innovative printmaking techniques. Delving deep into their artistic philosophies, collaborations, and creative methods, the book offers rich insights into a transformative period in the international artistic avant-garde at the turn of the century. An extensive illustrated chronology recounts the overlapping lives and careers of the Nabis and their literary, artistic, and social contemporaries in Paris and beyond. This important and beautiful volume significantly enriches the understanding the Nabis' lasting contribution to the history of modern ar t."