Soft edges, pastel colors, plump and comfortable figures, gestural painting, and an abundance of light – these are what come to mind when I think of Renoir. As I stood in front of one of his paintings, “Girl with a Hoop,” today in the National Gallery of Art, I nearly suffocated in the large crowd surrounding it. In a gallery filled with Manets, Gauguins, Redons, and Picassos (I must admit that I had urges to write Keatsian Odes to each throughout my time there), I am a bit puzzled as to why Renoir received so much attention. I find his work painfully sweet, and as the title suggests, like cotton candy. His portraits and café scenes lack narrative substance; the figures are plump and pink, and they live in a world of soft edges and comfort. There simply isn’t much to chew on. On the other hand, if you are hungry for something sweet, you will find Renoir to be a visual bonbon. Be warned, however, his work dissolves in your mouth all too quickly, leaving you hungry for something with a bit more substance. Nonetheless, he is a master of painting. His treatment of surfaces and the brushy quality of his painting, as seen in “Girl with a Hoop,” are testaments to his virtuosity in figural representation and composition. It is his skillful technique that saves the work from becoming tasteless.
In and of itself, beauty is a satisfying feast. However, I find it even more fulfilling when beautiful execution is used to enhance meaning. Hopefully next time the line to view the Renoir will not block the magnificent Manet painting right beside it….
Source for link: http://treebeard31.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/girl_with_a_hoop.jpg
No comments:
Post a Comment