Rural Scene 

Pierre-Auguste Renoir made this drawing, Rural Scene, with pastels, a medium consisting of pure powdered pigment and a binder, rolled into stick form. Unlike oil paint, which can be blended, pastels are applied in dry strokes, layer upon layer. This technique lends the scene its characteristic feathery texture and soft luminosity. Renoir worked at a time when pastels were gaining popularity as a medium of fine art, rather than just a tool for preparatory sketches. Artists were drawn to the immediacy and portability of pastels, which allowed for rapid plein-air studies and the capture of fleeting moments. The powdery, matte surface of pastels also creates a unique visual effect, very different from the sheen of oil paint. The work's texture and layering of colours create an informal, intimate viewing experience. By focusing on materials and processes, we can appreciate how Renoir elevated a humble medium into a tool for capturing light, atmosphere, and human form.