Portrait of Edmond Renoir, Jr. 1888

Pierre-Auguste Renoir, a French artist, made this portrait of Edmond Renoir Jr. using oil paints. Looking closely, you can see how Renoir applied his materials. He used a lot of thin layers, or glazes, of oil paint to build up the image. Notice how the colours blend softly together, especially in Edmond's hair and skin. The visible brushstrokes give the painting a sense of movement and light. Oil paint was a popular medium for artists at this time, favored for its versatility and rich colors. But Renoir's loose brushwork and focus on light and color were considered quite modern. He was part of a group of artists, called the Impressionists, who wanted to capture the fleeting moments of everyday life. So, next time you look at a painting, consider the materials and techniques used to create it. They can tell you a lot about the artist's intentions, and the culture in which they lived.