Head of a Young Woman 1902

Pierre-Auguste Renoir painted this "Head of a Young Woman" with oil on canvas, and it's now tucked away in a private collection. Look at the blush on her cheeks – it's like Renoir just dabbed it on, so immediate and fresh. The paint is thin, almost transparent in places, letting the canvas breathe. You can practically see the ghost of his process, the way he built up the image layer by layer. The background melts into soft grays, making her face the focal point. That one little curl escaping near her ear? It's a small detail, but it brings so much life to the piece. The way Renoir captures light and shadow is pure magic. It reminds me of Berthe Morisot's portraits, that same intimate, everyday feel, capturing a moment in time with such tenderness.