Les Nabis

Nabis (or Les Nabis; the prophets, from the Hebrew term for prophet) was a group of young post-impressionist avant-garde Parisian artists of the 1890s that influenced the fine arts and graphic arts in France at the turn of the 20th century.

Related Topics:
Prophet - Post-impressionist - Avant-garde - 1890s - Fine arts - Graphic arts - France - 20th century

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Les Nabis originated as a rebellious group of young student artists who banded together at Académie Julian in Paris, France. Paul Sérusier galvanized Les Nabis, and provided the name and disseminated the example of Paul Gauguin among them. Pierre Bonnard and Edouard Vuillard became the best known of the group, but at the time they were somewhat peripheral to the core group.

Related Topics:
Académie Julian - Paris, France - Paul Sérusier - Paul Gauguin - Pierre Bonnard - Edouard Vuillard

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Meeting at Académie Julian, and then at the apartment of Paul Ranson, they preached that a work of art is the end product and the visual expression of an artist's synthesis of nature in personal aesthetic metaphors and symbols. They paved the way for the early 20th century development of abstract and non-representational art. The goal of integrating art and daily life, was a goal they had in common with most progressive artists of the time.

Related Topics:
Académie Julian - Paul Ranson - Symbols - 20th century - Abstract

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Nabis artists are noted for the variety of media in which they worked. In addition to the fine arts, they worked in printmaking, poster design, book illustration, textiles, furniture and theatre design.

Related Topics:
Printmaking - Poster - Theatre

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Their emphasis on design was shared by the parallel art nouveau movement. Both groups also had close ties to the Symbolists.

Related Topics:
Art nouveau - Symbolists

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The word Nabi is derived from the Hebrew word for prophet. Les Nabis regarded themselves as initiates, and used a private vocabulary. They called a studio egasterium, and ended their letters with the initials E.T.P.M.V. et M.P., meaning "En ta paume, mon verba et ma paume" ("In the palm of your hand, my word and my palm.")

Related Topics:
Hebrew - Prophet

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