Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Stories behind Works of Art
We could make this publication thanks to small donations. How is 3 minutos de arte supported?
The Umbrellas (1881-1886). Pierre-Auguste Renoir
At the beginning of the 80s of the 19th century, when Impressionism was at its peak, (the first exhibition of the group was in 1874, and the last one was in 1886) Renoir started to feel limited, caught by Impressionism. He needed to “evolve”, explore new ways to express himself. He even said, “he did not know how to paint or draw, that he had come to a dead end.”
Renoir moved away from Impressionism and started a stage called “Ingres period” as he concentrated on his drawings. He started to incorporate a more precise drawing, cleaner contours, to sum up: a more classical representation.
The Umbrellas is an example of this change. It shows the artist’s transformation.
When Renoir started to feel unsatisfied with Impressionism, he destroyed several works he was not happy with, but did not destroy this one, which he had started to paint in 1881. He just left it unfinished.
What is amazing about this work is that a part is Impressionist, and the other one —painted towards 1886, when he finished it— is more classical, “Ingres-like.”
On the right side of the painting, there is a mother and her two daughters: quick, soft brushstrokes with luminous colors, characteristic of the Impressionist period of Renoir.
On the left of the composition, there is a full length young woman and a gentleman behind her: a clearer and more sober drawing, more concern for volume and an evidently colder palette.
And two more interesting details: in the new stage, in addition to Ingres influence, we can observe the admiration Renoir felt for Cézanne in the way he applied color to the tree in the background. And if the difference between on side and the other of the painting is not yet clear, we can confirm the temporal distance by observing there is a difference in the ladies’ fashion. A noticeable incongruence in his time which made it difficult for him to sell the painting.
Recommended links:
Fundamental Paintings to Understand the History of Painting: Luncheon of the Boating Party, Renoir.
Six paintings: Renoir and Aline.
You can also find more material using the search engine.
0 Comments