Gabrielle 1907

Renoir made this portrait, Gabrielle, with oil on canvas. I think you can really see Renoir's process here, in the way he's built up the image through layers of small marks. It’s all about the energy of the brushstrokes! Up close, you can see how he’s used different colors to make the flesh tones. There are strokes of green, blue, and purple that give the skin a feeling of warmth and life. He isn’t just trying to copy what he sees but instead, he’s really responding to his materials. It reminds me of the painter Bonnard, a little later, who also captured the beauty of everyday life with a similar sensitivity. It's like Renoir is having a conversation with the paint, and we get to listen in. For me, art's not about answers, but about keeping the conversation going.