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| Wednesday, 19 May 2004 |
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Brilliant impressions of Renoir's art by Caryl Nugara
Renoir once commented that his paintings revealed his "way of life" and transferring his colours on to canvas was the one and only thing he was concerned about. He practically relinquished everything else and was so anxious that he looked after his eyesight carefully because he knew that he needed them to bring out his talent in painting. He was born in 1841 to a simple family living in a rural area of France. When he was older the family went to live in Paris. As a young boy he worked in a porcelain factory where he painted lovely sprays of flowers and illustrations on ceramicware. He desired earnestly to become a painter, so he saved as much money as he could to enrol himself in a renowned studio. Meanwhile he met and made friends with Monet, Bazille, Sisley and Pissarro. This group of student painters eventually developed and introduced the great artistic "French Impressionist Style" of painting. The characteristics of "Impressionism" are to paint exactly what is seen, to emphasize youth, brightness and cheerfulness in their paintings, to concentrate on the facts of life and not to add anything subtle to their works of art. Renoir kept strictly to these rules and his compositions immortalized women. He seemed to be enchanted with their every movement, action or pose and conveyed a "mirror image" on canvas of what he saw. The nudes are not erotic though perhaps they may arouse desire. In "Les Grandes Baigne Uses" (Women Bathing) 1884, seen at the Museum of Modern Art, Philadelphia, Renoir has featured women bathing leisurely in an easy and friendly manner. He has brought out these characteristics with free-flowing caressing strokes of the brush. The canvas "Le Bal au Moulin de la Galette" (dance at the Moulin Galette) 1876 is displayed in the Louvre Paris. This place was really a dance hall and cafe in the village of Montmortre. Girls, students and clerks went there to enjoy themselves. Renoir's painting of it is crowded with young people. He somehow depicted the camaraderie and happiness of all those simple folk who relax, dance or seek companionship there. He painted this scene from different ranges of vision in shades of dark and light blue, ivory and grey. The characters are either talking happily, some are sitting at a table having drinks and a couple in embrace amidst gay dances in the open-air. It is a delightful composition of the 19th century. "La Danseuse Au Tamborine" (Dancer with a Tambourine) 1909 is attractive because this painting has captured the young girl merely dancing with a genuine expression of happiness in all her gaiety and youthfulness.
He brought out in colour the intrinsic beauty and innocence of a maiden enjoying her own music. Her peach-like skin that caught the light has been painted in semi-transparent colour. Delicate shades are used for her clothes. The soft, cream blouse is pinned up with a brooch. The sway of her skirts in pale blue and pink and a wreath of flowers round her chignon all depict her immaturity. This decorative canvas is at the National Gallery, London. In "Femme Nouant Son Soulier" (Woman Tying her Shoes) 1918, Renoir's impressionist art revealed the fact that the model was doing something very natural. Her body in curvature, clothed in flimsy underwear is painted in pale colours. Her petticoat drapes gracefully showing the beautiful liens of her shapely figure. Yet another portrait "Baigneuse se Coiffant" (The Bather's Hair) 1880, shows the perfection of the woman's nude body while the brunette concentrates on attending to her hair as she sits on a stone. This work of art is free of fantasy and utterly un-pretentious. "La Loge", a masterpiece, a resplendent portrait painted in 1874, considered as Renoir's greatest composition is displayed in Courtauld's Gallery. The models were his brother Edmond in the background and Nina a famous Montmatre actress and model. Every detail of the girl's exquisite loveliness has been captured with brush ad paint. Her splendid face is framed with dark hair into which two pink roses are tucked. Transparent crystal necklaces adorn her neck and delicate crystal ear-drops enhance the beauty of her perfect oval-shaped face. Graceful gloved hands are encircled with filigree bracelets. Her plump bosom revealed in a fine tulle blouse, flounces and black trimmings trace the elegance and beauty of her fully-clothed figure. Renoir's own indefinable manner of painting feminine qualities of beauty in detail that attracted him is clearly seen. It is rendering of a woman radiant with her transparent brown eyes, luscious lips and delicate skin. As Renoir loved nature, he also painted fruits and flowers, landscapes brilliant in sunshine and light and happy, young people especially girls. His models were pretty and pleasant and he always concentrated on the beauty of the contours of a nude and the posture. Though he lived in the era of the Industrial Revolution he detested machine-produced things. Though electricity was discovered at that time, he used candles, fascinated by the mellow glow it lent to his room. He liked the old-world atmosphere of paving with flagstone and the simple warmth and comfort of a country house with wild flowers and nature's own greenery. He never used artificial colouring when cooking his food and sliced bread on his plate distressed him. He believed that it should be broken with hands and then eaten. He thought that the buildings of the 19th century were ugly and repulsive. He believed that machine-made articles were to be resisted and people should use simple home-made items. He lived a life of simplicity and some contradicted his impressionist art. Certain critics thought his art was erotic. Others realised that he deliberately presented the nude in her inherent loveliness, her graceful movements and the glowing lustre of her flesh. He appreciated painting nudes not because he was sensual but because he was captivated by their grace. He was always aware of womanly beauty and had the urge to convey his feelings on canvas. Renior's paintings probably belong to a "worldly paradise" where women had mysterious and ethereal beauty. **** Back **** |
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