Bust of a Young Woman 1913

This is Renoir’s study of a young woman, painted with oils, sometime in his lifetime. Look at the way Renoir has built up this girl’s image—the way she emerges from the suggestive marks of colour. I get the feeling that he worked and reworked the image until she came to life. I imagine him wanting to capture something beyond just her likeness. The thing about Renoir is, he's not trying to nail reality. Look at the face and how the rosy cheeks and mouth are created with the same loose brushstrokes as the background. What is so striking is the gaze; the way she looks out is serene. There is an understanding, an emotional resonance that comes through so beautifully. The stripes on her blouse are an expression of the artist's love for colour and form. Painters are always talking to each other, across time, inspiring one another. It's as if Renoir is in a dialogue with other artists about how to see, feel, and translate the world. And it is through this conversation that painting opens itself to multiple readings.