Le Jardin de la Poste (Cagnes) 1906

Renoir painted Le Jardin de la Poste, Cagnes, with oils on canvas in a manner which is more about impressions than depiction. The colour palette feels like a memory of a summer garden rather than a record of it. See how the texture of the surface is built up with visible brushstrokes? These short, broken strokes of paint create a vibrant, shimmering effect, as if the light is dancing across the scene. The paint is applied thinly in some areas, allowing the canvas to peek through, while in others it's thicker, creating a tactile quality. Notice in particular the way the trees are rendered, with the dark strokes suggesting depth, the dappled light on the ground with flecks of orange and yellow. The overall effect is one of warmth, intimacy and transience, as if we’re catching a fleeting glimpse of a peaceful moment in time. You might see echoes of Fragonard in the composition, but the mark making looks ahead to Bonnard. Painting is a conversation, you know? It’s about feeling and seeing, not just knowing.