Figures by the Riverside

1884–1886

Cormon's atelier, Anquetin and Toulouse-Lautrec

After beginning at the École des Arts Décoratifs, Bernard joins Fernand Cormon's atelier, in 1884 by some accounts and in 1886 by others. There he experiments with Impressionism and Pointillism and befriends Louis Anquetin and Toulouse-Lautrec; he also meets van Gogh there.

August 1886

First meeting with Gauguin in Pont-Aven

In August 1886 in Pont-Aven Bernard meets Gauguin for the first time; they exchange little about art but look forward to meeting again. Looking back, Bernard said his own talent was already fully developed, and he believed that his style played a considerable part in the development of Gauguin's mature style.

1887

Cloisonnism, developed together with Anquetin

In 1887 Bernard and Louis Anquetin develop cloisonnism — bold forms separated by dark contours; in the spring they “turn against Neo-Impressionism”. Many, however, credit Anquetin with the technique, and Bernard was probably also influenced by the works of Cézanne he had seen.

1887–1888

An exhibition in the restaurant on the Avenue de Clichy

Back in Paris, Bernard attends the Académie Julian and meets van Gogh, who is impressed by his work. He finds a restaurant on the Avenue de Clichy where his work is shown alongside that of van Gogh, Anquetin and Toulouse-Lautrec; van Gogh calls the group the “School of the Petit Boulevard”.

1888

On foot to Pont-Aven: friendship with Gauguin

A year later Bernard again sets out for Pont-Aven on foot and sees Gauguin; their friendship and artistic partnership quickly grow strong. Bernard wants an art of the most extreme simplicity, accessible to all and practised collectively, and Gauguin is impressed by his ability to put his ideas into words. Other accounts have him living in Pont-Aven in 1886–1888 and joining the Pont-Aven group.

1890

A religious crisis and a turn to the Middle Ages

In 1890 Bernard goes through a religious crisis and turns to the subjects and themes of medieval art. In the same year he sets out to revive symbolism, which he saw as Christian in essence — the invisible expressed through the visible.