Pêches et prune 1919

Pierre-Auguste Renoir painted these peaches and plums with oil on canvas, and it's like watching him think through paint. He's feeling his way through the forms with these short, soft strokes. Look at the plums especially. They are like small, gray green jewels nestled in the composition. The paint isn’t trying to mimic reality, it’s more like Renoir is suggesting the idea of plums, their color and roundness. You can practically feel the juicy ripeness just by looking at the painting. The way the colors blend together creates a harmony that’s almost musical. Renoir was one of those guys who was really looking at color and how it shifts and shimmers. He's in conversation with other painters like Manet, and later Cezanne, all of whom are trying to capture the fleeting moments of light and life. The beauty of Renoir is that he invites us to linger, to savor the pleasure of seeing.