Apple and Pear c. 1909

This is Renoir’s, Apple and Pear, an oil on canvas. Looking at it, you can see how Renoir builds up these simple forms from little dashes of color, like he’s knitting with paint. This piecemeal approach makes you aware of painting as a process. If you get up close, you’ll notice that the surface is quite scrubby. It's like he’s layering thoughts, one over the other. You can almost feel the push and pull of the brush. See how the shadows under the fruit aren't just gray but made up of blues and purples? That's where the magic happens, the way the cool colors make the fruit seem to glow. Renoir reminds me a little of Bonnard, how they both make paintings that feel like a memory or a dream. In the end, it's not about the fruit but about the fleeting sensation of seeing, feeling, and remembering.