Nude Woman Reclining c. 1917 - 1919

Pierre-Auguste Renoir painted this reclining nude in oil with the kind of soft, hazy, almost edible brushstrokes that make you want to reach out and touch it. It's all about the process, the way he builds up layer upon layer, blush upon blush. The materiality of this painting is key; look at how the light catches on the surface, creating a sense of depth and movement. The colours are a symphony of pinks, peaches, and creams, giving a warmth that radiates from the canvas. Notice the small brushstrokes around the breast of the figure, how they seem to blend and blur together, creating an almost tactile sensation. It's like Renoir is inviting you to run your fingers over the soft contours of the figure. Renoir definitely had a thing for Titian, for that Venetian love of colour, flesh and atmosphere. But what I love about Renoir is his unapologetic embrace of pleasure, his willingness to indulge in the sheer joy of painting. It's a reminder that art doesn't always have to be serious or intellectual, it can simply be a celebration of beauty and sensuality.