Seated bather 1912

Pierre-Auguste Renoir created this Seated Bather with oil on canvas, and what strikes me is the joy he takes in applying the paint. Up close you see the pinks, reds, and oranges, layered and blended to create a warmth that radiates from the skin. Renoir wasn't trying to capture a likeness so much as a feeling, a sensuality. Look at the way the light catches the curve of her arm, how the pigment pools and gathers to define the form. The brushstrokes are soft and feathery, almost caressing the surface. It reminds me a little of Fragonard, but where Fragonard is all frothy and light, Renoir feels more grounded, more earthy. You can see the influence of the old masters. But it also feels very modern, like he's paving the way for artists like Bonnard and Vuillard. In the end, it's all about the pleasure of painting, and the pleasure of looking.