Little Girl in a White Apron (Portrait of Lucie Berard) 1884

Pierre-Auguste Renoir created this painting of Lucie Berard with oil on canvas, a very conventional pairing that has, in the past, been considered as 'high art', as opposed to craft. The visible brushwork is quite remarkable. Renoir clearly wants us to see his working of the medium. The impasto application of paint gives the image a tactile quality, as though we could reach out and touch the girl's hair or the fabric of her apron. The textures are built through a layering process, building up the form gradually. This direct engagement with the material is critical. By emphasizing the handmade quality of the painting, Renoir elevates the act of creation, reminding us that art is not just about representation but also about the artist's labor and skill. This focus on materiality and making challenges the traditional hierarchies of the art world, blurring the lines between fine art and craft.