Young Woman Seated 1909

Pierre-Auguste Renoir painted this “Young Woman Seated” at some point during his career with oil on canvas. Look at the way Renoir builds up the image with all these tiny brushstrokes. The marks almost vibrate with energy, like he’s trying to capture a feeling more than a photographic likeness. It’s like a mosaic of color, and each dab seems to dance on the surface. The paint is applied pretty thinly, and the strokes are really visible. Nothing is blended or smoothed; it’s all about the touch. Notice the pinks and oranges in her cheeks, or the way the light catches the fabric of her blouse. It’s all done with these quick, lively strokes. The overall effect is luminous and airy, and the texture feels alive. It reminds me of Fragonard, but with a more modern sensibility. It’s like Renoir is showing us that art is just as much about the process as it is about the subject. And maybe that’s the point, to see the world in a new, more vibrant way.