An invitation to the colorful, dynamic world of the Nabis, a circle of Post-Impressionist avant-garde artists whose members, including Bonnard and Vuillard, celebrated both everyday life and the decorative arts.

Inspired by Paul Gauguin in the last decade of the nineteenth century, the Nabis saw themselves as prophets of a new art. This vibrant illustrated book showcases rarely seen paintings, prints, and decorative arts by the visionary artists associated with the Nabis: Pierre Bonnard, Maurice Denis, Henri Evenepoel, Aristide Maillol, Paul Ranson, Ker-Xavier Roussel, Félix Vallotton, Édouard Vuillard, and others.

Essays by leading scholars of European modernism explore the relationship between Nabi art and intimacy, the influence of Symbolist poetry and literature, and printmaking techniques. Delving into their artistic philosophies, collaborations, and creative methods, the book offers rich insights into how the Nabis worked across artistic disciplines and media to break down the artificial barriers between the fine and applied arts. This important volume significantly enriches the understanding of the Nabis' lasting contribution to the history of modern art

About The Author

Elsa Smithgall is senior curator, The Phillips Collection.
Sarah Bertalan is a New York-based conservator specializing in late-nineteenth- and twentieth-century works on paper. Isabelle Cahn is chief curator, Musée d'Orsay.
Clément Dessy is assistant professor, University of Warwick.
Dorothy Kosinski is the Vradenburg Director and CEO, The Phillips Collection.
Katherine M. Kuenzli is professor of art and art history, Wesleyan University