Woman Combing Her Hair 1908

This is Renoir’s "Woman Combing Her Hair", somewhere in late 19th century France, made with oil on canvas. The colours are pure Renoir, all pinks, peaches, and creams, and the brushstrokes are soft, as though the whole image is breathing. Look closely, and you can see how the skin tones aren't just one colour but made up of lots of different shades. The texture of the paint is also really interesting. It’s not too thick, but you can still see the individual brushstrokes, which gives the painting a kind of liveliness, a sense of movement, as if we have caught her in a fleeting moment. The way Renoir handles light is amazing; it’s so gentle and diffused, giving the scene a warm glow. It reminds me a little of Bonnard, who also had this knack for capturing intimate, domestic scenes. But Renoir’s touch is lighter, maybe more optimistic. His paintings are like a conversation, a back-and-forth between what he sees and how he feels. Ultimately, this painting is less about the "what" and more about the "how."