Woman in a Red Blouse 1914

Here is Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s "Woman in a Red Blouse". It's a painting where the energy is all about color and light, made with oil paints. Look at how Renoir builds up the form of her blouse with these incredibly juicy strokes, oranges melting into reds and yellows. It's like he's not just painting a blouse but the feeling of warmth. The brushwork isn't trying to hide itself. It's present, almost like a record of the movements that brought this woman into being on the canvas. Zoom in on the sleeve. See how each stroke seems to vibrate with life? This little burst of strokes captures something essential about Renoir's approach, that painting is not just about representation, but about sensation, about the joy of applying paint to canvas. It reminds me a little of those paintings by Berthe Morisot, that are full of life, and energy. Ultimately the painting is about how art is an ongoing conversation. Enjoy!