Mother and child 1895

Pierre-Auguste Renoir likely made this painting of a mother and child with oil on canvas. The softness of the scene isn't just a feature of the subject matter, it is inherent in the nature of oil paint itself. Renoir, as with many impressionist painters, built up the image through thin layers of paint, or glazes. The way the colors are applied—in short, broken strokes—allows light to penetrate and reflect off the white ground beneath. This results in a luminous, shimmering surface, which gives the impression of captured light. The subject of this painting is also important. With the rise of industrial capitalism in nineteenth-century Europe, the home and family became idealized, and so maternal affection became a theme celebrated in paintings. The way Renoir renders it, using a skilled technique developed over centuries, lends it a sense of grace. Understanding the material qualities and historical context of this painting helps us appreciate how it reflects and reinforces certain cultural values.