Nursemaids’ Promenade, Frieze of Carriages

Pierre Bonnard

Cleveland Museum of Art

The image is a triptych painting, divided into three panels. The background of the painting is a light beige color. The top of the painting depicts a frieze of horse-drawn carriages in various colors including black, yellow, green, brown and tan. The carriages are drawn by horses or a donkey and some have people inside. There are also some small dogs depicted. In the middle panel, a woman wears a large brown hat and a long dress. She holds a flower and appears to be standing still. A child in a black hat and dress runs to her right. The child holds a hoop and stick. A small black dog runs near the child. On the left panel, there are two nursemaids. One nursemaid wears a dark-colored dress with a white scarf. The other nursemaid wears a blue and white striped dress and a brown patterned shawl. Both nursemaids appear to be standing still and looking to the right. The right panel is mostly empty, with a small section of the child's dress visible. The overall style of the painting is reminiscent of the Art Nouveau and Nabi movements.