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Robert BONFILS

A painter, a printmaker and a decorator, Robert Bonfils was born in Paris (1886-1972) where he lived a long life.  He was first a student of the Arts Décoratifs and later of the Beaux-Arts, both in Paris.  He exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Français, then at the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts (often named La Nationale), and finally at the Salon d'Automne.  Robert Bonfils practiced all printmaking techniques with elegant simplicity and most of his prints show a refined sense of fashion.  At the onset of the first World War he was one of the prominent artists illustrating the very popular Gazette du Bon Ton.  While he did etch and engrave a bit, Bonfils is mostly remembered as a printmaker for the few dozen woodcuts he created, in color mostly, but also in two tones or simply monochromatic.  The city of Paris, casual elegance, Russian Ballets, as well as landscapes, or circuses were but a few of the many subjects he liked to render.  His keen eye often captured unexpected snapshots of action one would not anticipate seeing frozen in time.  Yet, he did so with talent and a twinge of humor.