Paysage de Haute-Savoie

In 1912 Bonnard purchased a small house, which he called Ma Roulette ("My Caravan"), at Veronnet, near the town of Vernon in Normandy. Monet lived in nearby Giverny. Bonnard divided his time between Veronnet and a residence and studio in Paris. In 1911 he purchased his first automobile, an 11CV Renault, which he painted pale yellow, and used to travel widely throughout the countryside. He especially enjoyed taking Route 7, the "queen of highways," from Paris south to Antibes and Nice. Bonnard usually drove slowly, and made frequent stops to observe the changing aspects of the landscape along the way. The present work, painted in a manageably small format and on easily carried paper (which was later affixed to canvas), was probably done on the course of one of these automobile trips. It shows the rugged countryside of the Haute-Savoie, with a rocky outcropping at upper left, suffused with the crystalline light found at higher altitudes.