Pierre-Auguste Renoir, 1841-1919

These paintings by Pierre-Auguste Renoir are so beautiful. When my family and I went to Washington , D.C. last year I got to see some of his paintings in person. It was so exciting to see the actual brush strokes that Renoir did so many years ago. I wonder what he was thinking as he was painting...did he spend hours working on one little section of a painting like I do? I could have spent all day in that art museum studying the different paintings and wondering what the artists thought about as they mixed and remixed their colors. I bet they even had paint stains around their fingernails! 

The Dancer, 1874, Renoir

 When Renoir was a boy he worked in a porcelain factory. They found out that he was very talented in drawing, so he was chosen to paint designs on fine china. He was actually only 13 years old! That's just a year older than my Joey who also loves to paint and draw.

Dance at Le Moulin de la Galette, 1876, Renoir

A Woman with A Dog,1880, Renoir
(Portrait of Madame Renoir)

Renoir was a French artist that was known for the Impressionist Style. Impressionism focuses on capturing the overall impression of the scene by using light and color. 

A Girl with a Watering Can, 1876, Renoir

Me with the real deal! It is bigger than I imagined!

Roses and Jasmine in a Delft Vase, 1880-1881, Renoir

Renoir was also influenced by classicism and Realism.

"Why shouldn't art be pretty? There are enough unpleasant things in the world." 

Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Such a true statement! I wonder if he was thinking back to his days of painting designs on porcelain china when he said that?  

Thank you Renoir for giving us beautiful art to look at!!!

Love,

Josie