Ésquisse De Paysage Du Midi 1910

Pierre-Auguste Renoir made this landscape study probably en plein air with oil on canvas, capturing the light and atmosphere of the Midi region in France. It’s all about the materiality here: the lush dabs and dashes of paint, the way he builds up the forms with color rather than line. Look at how the yellow ochre and greens of the trees in the foreground almost vibrate against the cooler blues and greens of the distant hills. The brushstrokes are so immediate, so full of life. You can practically feel the breeze rustling through the leaves! This technique, using small touches of color to create a sense of movement and light, is what makes Renoir so Renoir. It reminds me a bit of some of Monet's landscapes, especially in the way he's focused on capturing the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere, but Renoir has this extra bit of warmth and intimacy, like he's inviting you into the scene. Art is just a conversation, right?