Apples and Manderines 1901

'Apples and Mandarines' is a painting by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, a tumble of fruit rendered in oil paint on canvas. Look at how Renoir has made this painting; building up colors and tones. It feels like he is playing with his materials, laying down loose brushstrokes with feeling. The oranges jump out against the background of reds and browns. This isn’t really about representation. It’s about the tactile process of applying paint, the pure joy of color, and the artist's sensual response to the world. I love the slight awkwardness of it all, the way the fruit is casually arranged, with subtle shadows that suggest volume and weight. You can almost feel the texture of the fruit's skin. Renoir invites us to see the world with fresh eyes, not just as it is, but how it feels to be.