A Look at the Life and Works of Renoir at the Library

A presentation of the artwork and life of Pierre-Auguste Renoir was held recently at the . Led by lecturer Emilia Rabito Baer, attendees were guided through a journey of the artist’s life and works.

Renoir was known as the Pope of Painting or the Painter of Happiness. He looked at the world optimistically as was reflected by his works of art. “He only made happy pictures, showing the world and the people the way he wanted them to see it,” Baer said.  Renoir was quoted as saying, “My purpose was always to paint people as if they were beautiful fruit.”

Renoir’s painting always captured a moment in time. He loved to paint voluptuous women with long hair. Renoir used his wife Aline for his influence in many paintings. Renoir was a master of color, Baer said, using soft tones. But in his middle years, Renoir developed painful and debilitating rheumatoid arthritis. He had a lot of pain, and deformity in his hands and feet but he didn’t want anyone to know it. “He often had someone tie brushes to his hands,” Baer said. Renoir was quoted once as saying, “You see, you don’t even need a hand for painting.” His legs were often so weak he would use two canes and sometimes couldn’t wear shoes.

“One must from time to time attempt things that are beyond one’s capacity,” Renoir once said. Renoir perseveres in his goal for beauty in art and has custom art tools designed to accommodate his condition. He continually had to adapt his painting technique depending on his condition.

Some notable paintings attendees learned about included “On the Terrace,” “Woman With a Mandolin,” “The Dancer,” and “Child With a Hoop.” Renoir painted boys and girls very similarly; he feminized little boys by painting them with long hair and dresses. He did the same to his own children, as he loved the long hair.

Before Renoir married Aline, there were a few women who served as an influence in his artwork. They included Lise Trehot, to whom he was engaged and Margot Legrand, whom he loved dearly but she was only 16 years old and her father would not allow it. Many paintings were of Gabrielle, his wife’s cousin, as she cared for him and modeled for him for many years. However, when it came to paintings of the nude body, Renoir would only use his wife as a model.

Baer presented a  look at other famous Renoir works such as “The Large Bathers,” “The Theater Box,” “Moulin de la Galette,” “Luncheon of the Boating Party,” “The Umbrellas,” and “The Wedding Feast at Cana.” Renoir passed away in 1919 at the age of 78. The height of his fame occurred from 1910-1919, toward the end of his life. A few hours before he died, Renoir said, “I think I am beginning to know something about painting... I am still progressing.”