Vase of Flowers 1884

Pierre-Auguste Renoir, a leading figure of the Impressionist movement in France, created this oil painting titled "Vase of Flowers" during his career. The image is a reminder of the important role the French academies played in dictating what was considered art. Despite the Impressionists' radical challenge to the Academy, Renoir still painted traditional subjects such as this floral arrangement, which we can see as a nod to the old hierarchy in art. Looking at this painting, we may ask ourselves if Renoir was commenting on the social structures of his time. Was he self-consciously conservative or progressive? Did he critique the institutions of art, or was he more interested in the aesthetic pleasure of it? As art historians, to better understand this painting, we can research Renoir's biography and look for letters and documents that shed light on his artistic intentions and social views. This helps us understand the meaning of art as something that is contingent on its social and institutional context.