Enfants jouant à la balle 

Pierre-Auguste Renoir's sketch, "Enfants jouant à la balle," captures the simple joy of children playing with a ball. The circular form of the ball itself is laden with meaning, echoing the sun and wholeness, a symbol found across cultures. The image of children at play, reaching and grasping, is evocative. Think back to antiquity, to similar scenes in Pompeian frescoes or Greek vase paintings depicting playful cherubs. Here, this motif of reaching and striving resurfaces, yet, in a different guise. No longer deities or mythological figures, but rather everyday children. The act of play speaks to a deeper psychological need. It's as if the collective unconscious yearns for the carefree abandon of childhood. The composition creates a sense of movement, engaging us in a visual dance. In this dance, Renoir reminds us of the cyclical nature of life and the perpetual return to simple, shared experiences.