Renoir’s Masterpiece of Early Impressionism
This painting is doubtless Renoir‘s most important work of the mid 1870’s and was shown at the Impressionist exhibition in 1877. Though some of his friends appear in the picture, Renoir’s main aim was to convey the vivacious and joyful atmosphere of this popular dance garden on the Butte Montmartre.
The study of the moving crowd, bathed in natural and artificial light, is handled using vibrant, brightly coloured brushstrokes. The somewhat blurred impression of the scene prompted negative reactions from contemporary critics.
This portrayal of popular Parisian life, with its innovative style and imposing format, a sign of Renoir’s artistic ambition, is one of the masterpieces of early Impressionism.
Quote from Google Arts and Culture
Video from Smarthistory
Click for enlarged detail:
Bal du moulin de la Galette, 1876, by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) Oil on canvas, Paris, Musée d’Orsay, image source Google Arts and Culture, detail
Bal du moulin de la Galette, 1876, by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) Oil on canvas, Paris, Musée d’Orsay, image source Google Arts and Culture, detail
Bal du moulin de la Galette, 1876, by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) Oil on canvas, Paris, Musée d’Orsay, image source Google Arts and Culture, detail
Bal du moulin de la Galette, 1876, by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) Oil on canvas, Paris, Musée d’Orsay, image source Google Arts and Culture, detail
Bal du moulin de la Galette, 1876, by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) Oil on canvas, Paris, Musée d’Orsay, image source Google Arts and Culture, detail
Bal du moulin de la Galette, 1876, by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) Oil on canvas, Paris, Musée d’Orsay, image source Google Arts and Culture, detail
Bal du moulin de la Galette, 1876, by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) Oil on canvas, Paris, Musée d’Orsay, image source Google Arts and Culture, detail
Bal du moulin de la Galette, 1876, by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) Oil on canvas, Paris, Musée d’Orsay, image source Google Arts and Culture, detail
Bal du moulin de la Galette, 1876, by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) Oil on canvas, Paris, Musée d’Orsay, image source Google Arts and Culture, detail
Bal du moulin de la Galette, 1876, by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) Oil on canvas, Paris, Musée d’Orsay, image source Google Arts and Culture, detail
Bal du moulin de la Galette, 1876, by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) Oil on canvas, Paris, Musée d’Orsay, image source Google Arts and Culture, detail
Bal du moulin de la Galette, 1876, by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) Oil on canvas, Paris, Musée d’Orsay, image source Google Arts and Culture, detail
Bal du moulin de la Galette, 1876, by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) Oil on canvas, Paris, Musée d’Orsay, image source Google Arts and Culture, detail
Bal du moulin de la Galette, 1876, by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) Oil on canvas, Paris, Musée d’Orsay, image source Google Arts and Culture, detail
Bal du moulin de la Galette, 1876, by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) Oil on canvas, Paris, Musée d’Orsay, image source Google Arts and Culture, detail
Bal du moulin de la Galette, 1876, by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) Oil on canvas, Paris, Musée d’Orsay, image source Google Arts and Culture, detail
Bal du moulin de la Galette, 1876, by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) Oil on canvas, Paris, Musée d’Orsay, image source Google Arts and Culture, detail
Bal du moulin de la Galette, 1876, by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) Oil on canvas, Paris, Musée d’Orsay, image source Google Arts and Culture, detail
Bal du moulin de la Galette, 1876, by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) Oil on canvas, Paris, Musée d’Orsay, image source Google Arts and Culture, detail
Bal du moulin de la Galette, 1876, by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) Oil on canvas, Paris, Musée d’Orsay, image source Google Arts and Culture, detail
Bal du moulin de la Galette, 1876, by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) Oil on canvas, Paris, Musée d’Orsay, image source Google Arts and Culture, detail
Bal du moulin de la Galette, 1876, by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) Oil on canvas, Paris, Musée d’Orsay, image source Google Arts and Culture, detail
Bal du moulin de la Galette, 1876, by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) Oil on canvas, Paris, Musée d’Orsay, image source Google Arts and Culture, detail
Bal du moulin de la Galette, 1876, by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) Oil on canvas, Paris, Musée d’Orsay, image source Google Arts and Culture, detail
Bal du moulin de la Galette, 1876, by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) Oil on canvas, Paris, Musée d’Orsay, image source Google Arts and Culture, detail
Bal du moulin de la Galette, 1876, by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) Oil on canvas, Paris, Musée d’Orsay, image source Google Arts and Culture, detail
Bal du moulin de la Galette, 1876, by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) Oil on canvas, Paris, Musée d’Orsay, image source Google Arts and Culture
Video from Art History Online
In Summary
Google Arts and Culture aptly summarizes Dance at Le Moulin de la Galette, 1876, in the following quote:
This portrayal of popular Parisian life,
with its innovative style and imposing format,
a sign of Renoir’s artistic ambition,
is one of the masterpieces of early Impressionism.
Details
Auguste Renoir, Dance at Le Moulin de la Galette, 1876, Oil on canvas, Paris, Musée d’Orsay, Gustave Caillebotte bequest, 1894
- Title: Dance at Le Moulin de la Galette
- Date Created: 1876
- Provenance: Gustave Caillebotte bequest, 1894
- Painter: Auguste Renoir
- Original Title: Bal du moulin de la Galette
- Type: Oil on canvas
- External Link: http://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/collections/works-in-focus/search/commentaire_id/dance-at-le-moulin-de-la-galette-7138.html?tx_commentaire_pi1%5BpidLi%5D=509&tx_commentaire_pi1%5Bfrom%5D=841&cHash=648d
Thanks for Reading! 🙂
Ah, my favorite artist of all time! The sunlight in his work kept away the darkness of my teenage years. Today, reprints of his work hang on the wall above my work-desk.
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I remember the reference in your story, Rosaliene. Renoir is a special favorite here, also. Thanks for visiting! 🙂
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From our present perspective, it is difficult to understand why the Impressionists were viewed w/ such disdain. A painting such as this is so full of life.
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I agree, Anna, and I confess that some of them are my favorites now. The fact that they upset the mainstream apple cart makes me like them even more..Perhaps there is a bit of rebellion beneath my bright yellow bonnet (?) lol…… Thanks for commenting 😎
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