Portrait of a Girl in Red 1883

Editor: Here we have Pierre-Auguste Renoir's "Portrait of a Girl in Red," created in 1883 with oil paint. The girl's downcast gaze gives the whole painting a really quiet, contemplative feel, don’t you think? What do you see in this piece? Curator: You're right; there is an intimacy in her averted eyes. Renoir's brushstrokes! They almost vibrate, wouldn't you say? It's as if he captured not just her likeness, but the very air around her. Notice how the red isn’t just *red*. There's a dance of pinks, oranges, and even a hint of purple lurking within the fabric. Does it suggest anything to you? Editor: It’s almost like the painting itself is blushing. Is this common in Impressionist portraits? Curator: That's a keen observation. The Impressionists sought to capture fleeting moments, and portraits were about the sitter's presence rather than exact representation. To your point, those tints animate her very quickly. Maybe Renoir caught the very moment of that flush on her skin, rather than arranging and staging a pose like painters usually do. Editor: I see it now. The colors feel less about accuracy and more about capturing a mood. Her posture feels soft, gentle... Curator: Yes! Think about the context, the changing social role of women... Or perhaps it was Renoir's own sentimentality creeping into his work – he did love painting children, after all. Now that you say "soft" I wonder what her hands are doing in this shot. She might even be knitting, and thinking of all the reasons that matter. What kind of woman do you imagine her to be, when the frame cuts her off? Editor: I've definitely got a richer sense now, one of hidden narratives. Thanks. Curator: And thanks to you too, for spotting what truly sings in her very silent moment.