Bather Arranging Her Hair 1893

Pierre-Auguste Renoir probably made this painting, *Bather Arranging Her Hair*, with industrially produced oil paints. Although seemingly far removed from the realm of industry, Renoir's artistic practice was deeply embedded in the social context of 19th-century capitalism. The readymade paints he used were themselves products of factories and global supply chains. These paints allowed Renoir to explore his impressionistic style, with brushstrokes that capture the fleeting effects of light and color on the bather's skin and the surrounding landscape. There's a tension here between the apparent ease of the brushwork and the massive industrial infrastructure required to supply the paint. The sensuous handling of the material is undeniably skillful, but it is a skill made possible by the mass production of art supplies. So, next time you see a painting like this, remember that the artist's individual expression is always intertwined with broader social and economic forces. It encourages us to challenge the traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.