Anemones 1916

Pierre-Auguste Renoir made "Anemones" with oil on canvas, and it feels like a burst of pure energy, right? The marks are so immediate, thick and juicy - it's like he's wrestling with the paint. I love how he's not trying to hide the process; it's all right there on the surface. Look closely at the way he's built up the petals, layer upon layer, with these visible, separate strokes. There’s a gorgeous tension between the almost aggressive handling of the paint and the softness of the subject matter. That dark center of the left-most flower is so intense against the off-white petal colour, it’s like a little vortex pulling you in. For me, this painting feels connected to work by Manet; both artists embrace the physicality of paint to convey a sense of fleeting beauty. Ultimately, it's a reminder that art is a conversation, an ongoing exchange of ideas and approaches across time.