Paul Durand Ruel 1910

Pierre-Auguste Renoir made this portrait of Paul Durand-Ruel in 1910, using thin layers of paint. Imagine Renoir, brush in hand, squinting, and trying to capture Durand-Ruel's essence, not just his likeness. The way the strokes build up, soft and hazy, like a memory trying to come into focus. It’s like he's coaxing the image out of the canvas. I can almost feel the warmth in the yellows and reds of the background, and the way they make Durand-Ruel's dark jacket pop. Look how the brushstrokes dance across the surface, especially in the face. They're not just depicting features, they're conveying a sense of character, maybe even a bit of weariness. Painters are always in conversation with each other, and with the past. Renoir probably thought about the old masters while creating this. He was maybe also dreaming up new ways of seeing, feeling, and being, which is what painting is all about.