HELENE BAILLY is the Parisian art gallery that exhibits works by the Nabis group, featuring artists such as Pierre Bonnard, Édouard Vuillard, Paul Sérusier, and Maurice Denis.

In 1889, Paul Sérusier coined the term “Nabis,” derived from the Hebrew Nevi’im, meaning “prophet.” This group, formed around the Académie Julian, aimed to reinvent art. The original core, in 1888, included Sérusier, Ranson, Vuillard, Bonnard, and Maurice Denis. Despite their differences, they were all influenced by Gauguin and united by a shared vision.

They exhibited together for the first time in 1891 at Galerie Le Barc de Boutteville, presenting themselves as “Impressionists and Symbolists.” Closely linked to La Revue blanche, they also participated in the Salon des Indépendants. Their final group exhibition took place in 1900.

The Nabis artists championed a decorative and accessible art, blending painting, applied arts, and everyday life. Bonnard spoke of a “popular production,” while Maurice Denis emphasized the primacy of composition over subject matter. Their works oscillated between religious symbolism and intimate domestic scenes, focusing on composition and color harmony rather than narrative.

This approach was notably highlighted in the exhibition “Être ici est une splendeur” by contemporary artist Nathanaëlle Herbelin, shown alongside several Nabis such as Bonnard and Vuillard at the Musée d’Orsay in 2024. The exhibition underscored the enduring legacy of the Nabis in portraying the beauty of everyday life.