Seated Woman 1879

Pierre-Auguste Renoir created this Seated Woman using pastel, a medium composed of pure powdered pigment and a binder, likely in the late 19th century. Pastels are interesting because they bridge drawing and painting; Renoir would’ve applied them directly to the paper with a dry, almost chalky touch. Notice the delicate layering of colors – the strokes of blues, pinks, and browns that give the figure volume and presence. This technique allowed for a softness and light that was essential to Impressionist aesthetics. The appeal of pastel also lies in its immediacy. Unlike oil paint, which requires considerable preparation and drying time, pastels offered artists a direct, spontaneous means of capturing a fleeting moment, or a subtle expression. This suited the rapid pace of modern life, as well as the Impressionist desire to capture the transient effects of light and atmosphere. Considering the materials and method by which Renoir created this pastel drawing allows us to fully appreciate the artist's hand and the cultural moment in which it was made.