Impressionism, of course, gave birth to the pseudoart of the Modern tradition, where one could randomly splash paint on a canvas and call it quality.But before Impressionism sank into the visual depravity of its later practicioners, it produced artists who shared the values of the Academic tradition. Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919), a French painter, was one such artist.
Renoir painted with the gauzy texture of light present in Alma-Tadema, but with smoother strokes that embedded the entire canvas with endless flow. He painted a vast variety of genres, such as bourgeois life, still lives, posed portraits, and of course, naked chicks.
To the right, you will see "Girls at Piano", a commissioned portrait masquerading as a domestic scene. The content is balanced perfectly as the viewer's eyes are drawn to the faces of the girls reading sheet music. Notice how the light dances down the cascading locks of hair. Nobody does hair quite like Renoir, a feature clearly present in his other works. Observe the delicate folds of the draping in the painting -- Renoir uniquely bridged the gap between the photographic precision and idealism of the Academic tradition with the delightful vagueness of Impressionism, taking the best from both worlds as no other artist in his day achieved.
Does his work resemble that of any other artist that I have presented in this series? It should. Renoir shared the same teacher with Jean-Leon Gerome.
3 comments:
It is sad that I can be so moved by art and yet care so little about what is written about it (and that's a dig on ME, not on you, John!).
I can look at some painting, such as some of these you have shared, and be so overwhelmed with emotion and yet care so little about its origin or its artist who was obviously sharing something from his or her heart.
Is this closed attitude a little like someone who would listen to a sermon and yet refuse to appreciate the point?
I have enjoyed these posts very much.
Well, thank you. I'm glad that people are enjoying this departure from the norm.
A painting is a story, and knowing the author/artist helps reveal that story. For example, this painting by Godward features the artist himself seeking the affection of an attractive lady. The fact that Godward never married or enjoyed a successful long-term relationship with a woman adds depth to the painting.
Yes it does. I guess true art cannot be merely a pretty picture that matches the decor of the room.
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