此画派起於对印象主义（Impressionism）的反动，对於装饰性、或带有强烈情感的色彩运用、以及扭曲的线条等技法，则为其共同的兴趣。画派风格以富於表现的色彩及有节奏感的造型为主，代表画家有德尼（Maurice Denis）、波纳尔（Pierre Bonnard）、罗特列克（Toulouse-Lautrec）、以及音乐家德布希（Debussy），此外，雕塑家麦约（Maillol）也曾是此派成员。
 

此画派的绘画具有装饰特质，画派风格以带有强烈情感的色彩运用以及扭曲的线条等技法为其共同的兴趣。他们主张艺术无论如何还是要表现人类内在的精神，乃至于理念。诚如那比派的理论家莫里斯‧德尼所说：“所谓艺术无论如何还是表现，并且是精神的创造物，自然物不过是艺术的机缘而已”。也就是说，将外界自然当作主题不是为了正确将其再现，而是为了要透过它传达艺术家的理念，亦即艺术代替摹写自然，成为自然的主观变形。

那比派的画家也认为装饰绘画才是真正的绘画，绘画只是为了借着诗歌、梦幻、理念来装饰人类建筑物的平凡壁面的所需才产生的。其特色不只在于他的象征主义的倾向，同时他的许多成员对海报、插画，甚至舞台装置、室内设计都抱有兴趣，由此说明他们的美学基础是画面上的线条，以及色彩构成本身所拥有的自律性，并且各部分都保持相互呼应的造型秩序。

那比派第一次展览于一八九二年，在经纪人布特维尔的画廊举行，其时该会所有成员都为“作品剧院”工作。一八九九年在经纪人杜朗-鲁耶的画廊与一部分象征主义画家举行过一次成功的展览后，这些成员便逐渐离散。代表画家有：德尼（Maurice Denis）、波纳尔（Pierre Bonnard）、卢奥勒（K-X. Roussel）、乌依亚尔（Edouard Vuillard）及瑞士的瓦洛东（Felix Vallotton）。土鲁兹－罗特列克（Toulouse-Lautrec）也加入该会，而麦约（Maillol）从事雕塑之前也曾是该会成员。音乐家德布西（Debussy）也隶属于这个组织。

It has sent to Impressionism (Impressionism) reaction, for decoration, or with a strong emotional color use, and distorted lines and other techniques for their common interest. Painting style to rich in color and performance of the rhythmic style, on behalf of the artists Denis (Maurice Denis), Bernal (Pierre Bonnard), Lautrec (Toulouse-Lautrec), and musician Debuchy (Debussy), in addition, the sculptor Maillol (Maillol) was also a member of this school.
This painting has a decorative features, use of color painting style with a strong emotional and twisted lines and other techniques for their mutual interest. They claim that art, in any case, must show the inner spirit of human beings, and even the idea. As the Nabis theorist Morris Dy said: "the so-called art or in any case, and is the spirit of creation, but the nature is the art of opportunity". That is to say, the external nature as the theme is not to correct its reproduction, but through it in order to convey the artist's concept, namely art instead of depict nature, become the subjective nature of deformation.
Nabis artists also think of decorative painting is the real painting, wall painting just for ordinary through poetry, fantasy, philosophy to decorate the human buildings needed to produce. The characteristic not only lies in the tendency of his symbolism, and many of his members on posters, illustrations, and even interior design stage, are interested, so they are on the aesthetic basis of picture lines, self-discipline itself has form and color, and each part is kept each other in order.
The Bipaidi exhibition in 1892, held in the broker Butt Weil Gallery, when all members of the "theatre works". 1899 - the rouille in broker Durand gallery and a part of the Symbolist painters held a successful exhibition, these members will gradually discrete. On behalf of the artists: Denis (Maurice Denis), Bernal (Pierre Bonnard), Luo Le (K-X. Roussel), U Bea Jarl Vallotton (Edouard Vuillard) and Switzerland (Felix Vallotton). Toulouse - Lautrec (Toulouse-Lautrec) also joined the meeting and Maillol (Maillol) was also engaged in sculpture before the members of the committee. Musician Debuchy (Debussy) is also part of the organization.