Renoir: The Umbrellas

Pierre-Auguste Renoir (French, 1841-1919, )The Umbrellas c. 1881-86, oil on canvas, 71 x 45.2 inches, National Gallery, London, Image Source: wikimedia

“Painted in two stages, with a gap of around four years between each stage, it shows the change in Renoir’s art during the 1880s, when he was beginning to move away from Impressionism and looking instead to classical art. The group on the right, which includes a mother and her two daughters and the woman in profile in the centre, is painted in a characteristically Impressionist manner with delicate feathery touches of rich luminous tones. On the left of the composition, completed during the second stage, Renoir adopted a more linear style. The figures here, including the full-length young woman and the man standing behind her, have clearly defined outlines, precisely drawn features and a greater sense of three-dimensional form.”

National Gallery, London

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11 Comments Add yours

  1. Renoir is my favorite Impressionist painter (and perhaps my all-time favorite).I lived in Philadelphia for 28 years and was fortunately to visit the Barnes Foundation regularly. Thank you for the deeper look at this piece.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. How fortunate you are! I would love to see this one some day. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Madeline. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Dee's avatar Dee says:

    One of my favorite artists…

    Just a thought: Might Renoir have used a more classical approach on the subjects to the left of this painting because he wanted to draw the viewer’s eye to those two figures?

    Liked by 3 people

    1. It is such an interesting composition. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Dee. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  3. One of my favorites by Renoir!

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Eric Wayne's avatar Eric Wayne says:

    It’s an excellent painting, but, from the perspective of someone who’s brushing up on portraits, all the eyes are in the wrong places, and by a good stretch. Just look at the main girl.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. lol….Renoir vs. Loomis? Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Eric. 🙂

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      1. Eric Wayne's avatar Eric Wayne says:

        Yes, you nailed it completely. Renoir vs. Loomis! How succinct! A bulls eye!

        Liked by 1 person

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