Post-Impressionism

Les Nabis

a symbolist art-movement

Les Nabis:
Les Nabis, meaning ‘prophets’, were a group of artists, who had become friends during their study at Académie Julian. The group was formed in 1888 and disintegrated around 1900. The group was inspired by Cloisonnism, Synthetism, Gauguin, the brightness of Impressionism, Cézanne, Puvis de Chavannes, Italian primitives, medieval legends, mythological fables and Japanese art. Most of them also were interested in Musik, Literature and Theater. The first Nabis-painting was ‘The Talisman’ of Sérusier, which he made in October 1888 and influenced by Gauguin he systhematically placed pure colours side by side (R74,p293;R55,p128;R181,p615). Some see a simple line of influence: Gauguin inspired Sérusier (to make his Talisman) and Sérusier influenced his fellow students at the Académie Julian and spontaniously they formed Les Nabis (R289,p8-10; note Negri wrongly dates this 1889). But it was Bernard, who influenced Gauguin with Cloisonnist ideas, that were already practised by Anquetin and (in some way by) Laval. And the painting ‘The Talisman’ lacks cloisonnist lines and is no clear example for the works Les Nabis made. Many see Sérusier as the main stimulator of Les Nabis (R289,p8-10), but Denis is seen as the the most genuine and the true theoretician of Les Nabis (R289,p13+11).

 

For Les Nabis colour was the means of expression par excellence. They also used cloisonnist and curved lines and left out perspective (R57,p45-55). They produced symbolic and decorative art. They were not interested in reality, but in a mystical or religious ideal. They, as Bonnard put it, ‘didn’t want to paint life, but to bring to life the painting’ (R172,p81). They can be seen of part of the Symbolist art-movement (R3,p699).
Les Nabis came together in the ’temple’, that is the studio of Paul Ranson, used all kinds of rituals and wore special costumes (R289,p11). They exhibited at the expositions Impressionistes et Symbolistes, at the Salon des Indépendants and in 1899 they had a group exhibition at Durand-Ruel and in 1900 at Bernheim-Jeune. At the 1899 there also was an exhibition of honour for Odillon Redon (R74,p365).

The first members were all pupils from the Académie Julian: Paul Sérusier, Maurice Denis, Pierre Bonnard, Paul Ranson and Edouard Vuillard. (For more info on these artists see link to Post-Impressionist artists.) Side figures and/or later members were: Henri-Gabriel Ibels; Georges Lacombe; Aristide Maillol; Meyer de Haan (Dutch; ?-1893), Mögens Ballin (Danish), Jozsef Rippl-Ronai (Hungarian; 1861-1927); Ker-Xavier Roussel, Félix Vallotton, Louis Valtat (?) and Jan Verkade (Dutch; ?-1946). Some of Les Nabis were convinced Catholics (like Denis, Mögens Ballin and Verkade) others were anti-clerical and more interested in eastern philosophies, Theosophy and the Rosicrucians (like Lacombe and Ranson).

 

Sources: Negri (1974=R289); Gärtner (2001=R11,p486-495); Walther (2013=R3,p684); Kappelmayr (1995=R170,p344); Monnerett (1878-81=R88I,p613); Crussard (2002=R181,p615). Info and pictures on the internet: theartstory.org;

Recommanded citation: Post-Impressionism / art-movements: Les Nabis. Last modified 2025/02/10. https://www.impressionism.nl/les-nabis/”

 

Note: additional info and pictures will be added.