Portrait of Josse and Gaston Bernheim-Jeune, by Bonnard
MM. Bernheim-Jeune had privileged and friendly relationships with Claude Monet (from 1900 to his death), with Rodin, with PA. Renoir (from 1895 to his death) as evidenced by the five portraits of the Bernheim-Jeune family painted by the artist, with Vuillard (who made more than 10 portraits of the family), and with their brother-in-law Felix Valloton.
With their collaborator, Felix Fénéon, Josse and Gaston Bernheim-Jeune brought two new schools to light - Neo-impressionism or Pointillism (Seurat, Signac, Cross) and the Nabis (Maurice Denis, Bonnard, Vuillard, K.X. Roussel and Sérusier).
Many artists were under contracts with MM. Bernheim-Jeune : P. Bonnard (1904-1940), Chagall (1928), H.E. Cross (1906-1910), Raoul Dufy (1920-1929), Edouard Goerg (1926-1927), Grommaire (1930-1931), A. Maillol (1937), A. Marquet (1916-1931), Henri Matisse (1909-1926), J. Pascin (1928-1930), P. Signac (1907-1930), Maurice Utrillo (1927-1929), Kees Van Dongen (1909-1916), Maurice de Vlaminck (1920-1932).
Paul CEZANNE (1839-1906)
Cézanne, unlike Monet, Degas, or Renoir, was ignored by his contemporaries. But Josse and Gaston Bernheim visited him and collected his works. Bernheim-Jeune exposed the master, participated in his success. In 1914, Bernheim-Jeune Edition publishes the first book ever published on Cézanne.
Claude MONET (1840-1926)
Already known as a master of Impressionism. Claude Monet lived in Giverny, on the way to Bernheim’s weekend estate at Villers-sur-Mer. Each time they drove past they stopped for lunch at Monet’s home to admire his paintings or show a masterpiece of their own collection, like a Courbet’s nude that impressed and moved the master of the nympheas.
On their way back from the seaside, they brought regularly to Claude Monet the fresh shrimps he likes so much.
In 1908, Bernheim-Jeune acquired twenty-eight views of Venice. In 1912, has been organized the Claude Monet’s exhibition "Venice", positively welcomed by the criticism.
Pierre-Auguste RENOIR (1841-1919)
August Renoir was a frequent visitor of the Bernheim-Jeune gallery and a close friend of the family. Many of his paintings decorate the residence of Josse and Gaston Bernheim (see Renoir, Catalogue raisonné of paintings, pastels, drawings and watercolours by Guy-Patrice and Michel Dauberville, Volume I pages 3, 11 and 15).
In September 1901, Pierre-Auguste Renoir stayed several weeks in Fontainebleau, in the detached house of Bellune, to paint Mrs Josse Bernheim-Dauberville's portrait and that of Mrs Gaston Bernheim de Villers.
Auguste RODIN (1840-1917)
Friends of Rodin, Josse and Gaston Bernheim-Jeune expose and buy his works in his lifetime. They publish in 1915 a book on the genius of the sculpture.
Pierre Bonnard is a lifelong companion of the Bernheim-Jeune gallery.
In 1947, Bernheim-Jeune organizes in New York Pierre Bonnard’s last show shortly before his death. At the request of the artist, Bernheim-Jeune published and listed the works of the painter in a catalogue raisonné in 4 volumes: Bonnard, Catalogue raisonné of the painted work.
Henri Matisse signed five contracts with M.M. Bernheim-Jeune (from 1909 till 1926), and was also an intimate friend of the family.
Bernheim-Jeune editions notably published "Henri Matisse chez Berheim-Jeune" by Guy-Patrice and Michel Dauberville (2 volumes) in 1995. This book includes 798 works listed with their references at Bernheim-Jeune. Henri Matisse chez Bernheim-Jeune is currently the book that lists and reproduces the most paintings of Matisse.