Pierre Bonnard (1867-1947)

Guy-Patrice and Floriane Dauberville have confirmed the authenticity of this work.
The present lot is a drawing for the letter O in the artist's uncompleted alphabet book and depicts the silhouettes of Andrée and Charles Terrasse kissing behind a screen. According to Bonnard, "I have found a patron...who has asked me to do an album for children. I'm going to make an 'Alphabet sentimental.' To each letter will correspond a word beginning with that letter, signifying a passion or a state of soul, and which I will render by familiar little scenes in which tehre will be babies, animals landscapes, etc. It's a question of making beings and things speak" (quoted in op. cit.).