The Judgment of Paris 1914

Renoir made this oil painting called ‘The Judgement of Paris’ with soft brushstrokes and warm colors. Imagine the studio, the smell of turpentine, and Renoir, squinting, trying to capture the essence of light and form. I feel like he’s wrestling with something here. The paint's applied thinly in layers, almost like a watercolor, giving it a luminous quality. I see him stepping back, maybe tilting his head, and then, with a quick flick of the wrist, adding a touch of pink to a cheek or a dab of blue to suggest a shadow. Each gesture feels intuitive, searching. What does this scene from mythology mean to him? It reminds me a little of Fragonard or Boucher, but with a twist. There is a sense of fleeting moments captured. Renoir’s exploration of painting is rooted in the joy of perception and the celebration of life’s beauty. He's encouraging us to trust our senses and embrace the richness of lived experience. And isn't that what art's all about?