Or, more accurately, Mrs. Renoir.
This 1910 painting in the Wadsworth Atheneum is by Pierre-August Renoir. Mrs. Renoir was the painter's longtime mistress, muse and model. By the time this portrait was painted, they were both older and had married, and had eased into a familar domesticity. (I know this because the nearby sign told me.) The painting is so blurred, I wonder if Renoir's sight was failing . . .
24 comments:
Every one can have bad days I guess, even famous painters.
Comfort and domesticity go hand-in-hand, if one is lucky!! Another interesting close-up, Jack!
Beautiful paintings, I'm enjoying a lot the series about ART! :)
Léia
What you say is so right! It's known now that some great painters had problems with their sight, which gave them a" style" they did not really choose! I read this about Van Gogh, whose special yellows are said to come from a disease he was suffreing from..
It has a certain softness to it that makes it special.
Blurred or not I think he was a great artist.
Or maybe his sight wasn't failing, she might have just looked better blurred -- I'm sure I would these days! I've really enjoyed the art tour you've taken us on, Jack! Great posts and captures! Enjoy your weekend!
Sylvia
Renior is one of my favorites. Have you been to The Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia (Merion campus), they have an amazing collection of Impressionist paintings.
Most interesting portrait. Never seen it before. There seems to be considerable love painted into this picture. Great tour Jack, I'm enjoying your posts.
Failing eyesight makes everyone look "softer", thank goodness!
V
the softness/blur works well though for age!
Perhaps Mrs. Renoir requested the 'smokey lens' look. She does look content.
Great series Jack!
Nice. Will be going there for the Wyeth exhibition at the end of March.
To me the blurred is just part of the technique... You have one hell of a beautiful museum!
I like the softness - maybe he wanted to set a gentle mood!
He painted plump women well! I love the softness of this piece Jack ... But any work by Renoir is a treat to my eyes. The framing is beautiful.
Marriage will do that to you! Nah, just kidding.
What happened to you; did you give up trying to access our new site?
All of his stuff is a bit fuzzy. But don't you know that you never take a crisp rendition of a lady past a certain age? (Remember the Doris Day show? As a kid, I couldn't figure out why her face was so fuzzy.) My parents had a little booklet of Renoir when I was a kid. I liked looking at the paintings of children.
Well done on this series. You are keeping everyone intersted with the variety and the excellent art.
Maybe he just didn't want to show all her wrinkles? ;)
Did I say already that I like this series?
I love Impressionist art, but there's something about Renoir portraits that just sings for me. And I love this portrait. Beautiful capture - very well done.
It was good that the Renoir painting was secured to the wall with you in the gallery....
She probably threatened him on pain of death not to paint her wrinkles! I do love the round pinkness of Renoir's portraits though.
I like it!:)
Thanks for sharing.
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