Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Renoir loved two things in life - nudes and the grand tradition of classical art. In this painting, he paid homage to Ingres's Grande Odalisque (originally from Musée du Louvre, Paris - check it in our Archive!), although he transformed Ingres's cool courtesan into a healthy, pink-cheeked girl, and the harem into an Impressionist landscape reminiscent of the Channel coast.
Renoir’s preoccupation with the human form spanned his artistic career. He painted hundreds of nudes from the 1860s until his death. The origins of this fascination can be sourced to his early years growing up close to the Louvre, where he studied the works of Peter Paul Rubens, Francois Boucher and Eugène Delacroix. He would recreate their works alongside fellow students, while preparing for his exams to enter the École des Beaux-Arts.
If you would like to learn more about Renoir and the Impressionists please check our Mega Course and our The Impressionists Notebook :)
P.S. Read here about Lise Tréhot, the mysterious beauty from Renoir’s paintings.
Today Kate, the editor-in-chief of DailyArt Magazine has her birthday! We know how she loves Renoir. Happy Birthday Kate! :))