Forever Nude is the story of French painter and print-maker Pierre Bonnard’s lifelong relationship with a young farm girl, Marthe de Méligny, his muse and inspiration over many years.
Bonnard encountered Marthe when she was 16 years old and attempting to cross the Boulevard Haussman. Marthe, who had just arrived in Paris from her father’s pig-farm was about to get mown down by a tram, when Bonnard gallantly rescued her, hurrying her across to the other side of the road and beginning what turned out to be a 49 year relationship, only ending with Marthe’s death in 1942.
Marthe was actually named Maria Boursin Bonnard but on arriving in Paris adopted a more aristocratic name for herself, only revealing this to Bonnard 32 years later when they married. Marthe sat for Bonnard countless times, being for Bonnard a wholly satisfying model, as reflected in his many paintings of her. But Bonnard did not like her to “sit” as such, but preferred to capture Marthe as she went about her daily life by his side, often dressed, sewing, writing a letter, or more often nude and bathing or reclining on a bed.
Forever Nude is a strange little book, only 135 pages long and many of the pages only half-filled due to the very short chapters into which it is divided. It is not a conventional biography as such, but more a poetic reflection on Bonnard’s relationship to his art and to his wife.
The book’s author, Guy Goffette, is a highly regarded Belgian poet, and producer of short fiction which often reimagines the lives of historic figures. This is the first of his books to be translated into English (very ably, by Frank Wynne) although his poetry has appeared in a number of poetry publications. Although I found the style a little too “flowery”, this was a pleasant read which provided a good impression of the artist’s life.
Not being very familiar with Bonnard’s paintings, I now know something of his approach, particularly his love of the colour black. A quick Google image search of his work shows his ability to create rich darks as in this work to the right. Guy Goffette writes that Bonnard gave to black a sensuality, a depth, a pulse which few of his contemporarires could rival.
I enjoyed this book and finished it in an afternoon. It is a nicely produced volume and can be bought cheaply online and it would definitely make a nice gift for the right person..
