Vase of Roses 

Pierre-Auguste Renoir made this painting of roses with oil on canvas. The painting depicts delicate roses, a popular subject for artists like Renoir who thrived in a Parisian art world governed by institutions like the Salon. Consider the cultural associations of flowers, often linked to beauty and the feminine. How do such conventions shape our understanding of art? Was Renoir reinforcing traditional values or challenging them? Renoir lived through a period of enormous social and political upheaval in France, including the Franco-Prussian War and the Paris Commune. Yet, his paintings often seem detached from these events. Why might an artist choose to focus on seemingly apolitical subjects during turbulent times? Was this an act of resistance? Or was Renoir simply catering to the market for decorative art? Such questions are explored by looking into the social and institutional context of art production. By consulting exhibition records, critical reviews, and other historical documents, we can gain a richer understanding of art's role in society.