Intisme - intimism

A French term from the 1890s used to describe artwork of Edouard Vuillard and Pierre Bonnard, prominent artists of that period who combined aggressive modernism with cozy, 'intimate' domestic genre scenes. A frequent subject was a female figure oblivious to being watched. French "Intimism" often involved scenes of raucous night life with female nudes, drinking and cabaret. American "Intimism" featured females arranging flowers or other 'lady-like' domestic activity. The overall effect was sometimes jarring because of the tension between the serene tone suggested by the subjects and shockingly avant-garde style. The word "Intisme" in English means intimate. Source: Robert Atkins, ART SPOKE; 'Art Terms', "Quarterly", Richard Love Gallery, Fall-Winter 2008