Les Nabis

A young group of French artists came together and formed Les Nabis in Paris in 1888 lasting until 1900. The Nabis took their name from the Arabic word nabi, or prophet. The term was created with the thought of being parallel between the ways these painters aimed to revitalize painting as prophets of modern art the way the ancient prophets had rejuvenated Israel. This group played a large part in the transition from Impressionism to abstract art, symbolism and the other early movements. Most of the members were students at the Academie Julian in Paris. Each artist had a different individual style but shared in the uniting admiration for Paul Gauguin and Paul Cezanne. These artist held the belief that a work of art was not a depiction of nature, but a synthesis of metaphors and symbols created by the artist. In 1900, following their final exhibit, the artists went separate ways.