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For many years I have enjoyed the art of the Impressionists. There is such a freedom in the brushstrokes and a joie de vivre in the extravagant display of color. I discovered the art of Manet first in high school. I made speeches on it. Then I fell in love with the art of Monet. His red poppies captivated me and I sought to recreate them in my college art classes. I then took a detour to Seurat who I now know is often classed as a Post-Impressionist. I celebrated his controlled Pointillism. Yet, the one who I cannot get enough of today is Renoir. His art is a contradiction. He can paint in the styles of his contemporaries and yet his art is distinctive with a style all its own. It has a fullness the others lack.
In "Renoir ~ Painter of Happiness" by Gilles Neret, I learned a great deal about this extraordinary artist. The author went beyond a mere discussion of Renoir’s art and gave as well a picture of the man and his sense of humor. You will enjoy reading the cheeky comments made by Renoir in response to others, comments which were sometimes funny, sometimes shocking, and often both.
Included in the book also are images of paintings by Renoir's contemporaries. In several sections of the book, Neret shows a side-by-side comparison of Renoir's painting of a scene with a painting of the same scene by one of his contemporaries. This allows us to compare and contrast the similarities and differences in style. You can experience the vibrancy of Renoir's landscapes as well. When compared with the art of others from his day, Renoir's art has a brightness and often richer color lacking in the paintings by others. In Renoir’s words, "I want to find a red loud enough to ring like a bell, and if I don't manage it at first, I add reds and other colors until I do." You will enjoy the beautiful color reproductions of the paintings allowing you to witness for yourself Renoir's preoccupation with the female form. There is a health to Renoir's women, a rosiness to their cheeks and roundness to their figures, a robustness to their expressions and often just a hint of a smile. Even his paintings of children clearly show them to be in good health. There are no starving families in Renoir's world of art. His paintings of children exemplify healthy and well-cared for boys and girls whether they are shown drawing, playing or pouting. Go To Page: 1 2
The copyright of the article Experience the Art of Pierre-Auguste Renoir in Famous Artists is owned by Tricia Dake. Permission to republish Experience the Art of Pierre-Auguste Renoir in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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