Renoir: A World of Color

Are you scandalized when you look at the painting of people standing on a riverbank above? Probably not. But when they were painted, these images were quite shocking. Read on to find out why.

In the late 1800s, Paris was the center of the art world. The French Academy, an official institution of cultural critics, created a strict set of rules for French painting. It hosted annual Salons, or art exhibitions, and only artists chosen by a jury were allowed to participate. The paintings that were included were considered the best in France. They were highly detailed, were painted in a studio, and featured historical or biblical subjects.

In 1879, Renoir visited Chatou, a town on the Seine River, where he painted Oarsmen at Chatou (at the top of this page). Using small, repeated brushstrokes of lush colors, Renoir shows the effects of sunlight on the figures and the water. Again working in complementary colors, Renoir uses blue to create shadow on the intensely orange boat, and dabs of red-orange to highlight the blue waves. Subtle flecks of red make the green grass brighter and more intense.  

Renoir uses repetition of brushstrokes to create movement and texture. Short, quick brushstrokes make the water seem to ripple, while long, delicate strokes evoke grasses blowing in the breeze. This careful brushwork, together with Renoir’s use of color gives the impression of a summer day on the banks of a river.