The Loge 1879

This drawing, "The Loge", was made by Pierre-Auguste Renoir on paper using chalk and pastel. These materials are interesting because they occupy a space between drawing and painting. You have the immediacy of a drawn line, but also the build-up of pigment that we associate with paint. Renoir uses layers of hatched pastel marks to build up areas of color, light, and shadow. The marks blend together, creating a vibrant surface texture with a tangible sense of depth. The loose handling also provides a great sense of informality, as though Renoir has caught a fleeting moment. Pastels offered Renoir a convenient way to capture the sensory pleasures of modern life. He relished the textures of clothing, skin, and hair, alongside the artificial environments that the Parisian bourgeoisie were keen to inhabit. Think of the hours spent on dressmaking, hairdressing, and even make-up, as well as the manufacturing of materials. Seen in this light, Renoir's chosen materials and techniques speak of a world in which art, fashion, and daily life were becoming ever more intimately entwined.