Apples and Manderines 1890

Editor: Here we have Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s "Apples and Mandarines," an oil painting from 1890. What strikes me is its soft, almost blurry quality; it's quite muted and gentle. What do you see in this still life? Curator: Well, aside from wanting a snack? I see Renoir pushing beyond mere representation. Look at how he treats light. It's not about accuracy but about capturing the *feeling* of light. It’s that Impressionist sensibility. Tell me, does it remind you of something you know, like perhaps a faded memory? Editor: You know, it does! Almost dreamlike. I suppose that's intentional, this lack of sharp focus? Curator: Absolutely. Think of it as Renoir chasing an emotional truth, not a photographic one. And those colours! Not quite what you’d expect for apples, are they? He is more interested in the sensation of colour, playing with tones and hues to create that feeling. It's less about painting fruit and more about painting a joyful, sensual experience. Editor: Sensual, that's a good way to put it! So, he's using the fruit as a vehicle for something more abstract? Curator: Precisely! Much like a poet uses words, he's using these everyday objects to speak to something deeper, something more human. Perhaps he aims at creating art from simplicity. What a treat, don't you think? Editor: I never would've seen all that without your insight! Now, I’m thinking about art, but also of fresh fruit and sunshine... Curator: Ha! A successful painting then. Renoir, the ultimate influencer perhaps, getting us all hungry for beauty, even after all these years.