Les Roses Au Rideau Bleu 1912

This is *Les Roses Au Rideau Bleu*, Roses with a Blue Curtain, painted by Pierre-Auguste Renoir using oil on canvas. Renoir’s paintings often portray lively scenes of Parisian life, but here we see something more intimate. The very visible brushstrokes are as much the subject of this painting as the roses themselves. The materiality of paint is evident in the way Renoir captures the play of light on the petals. His technique, built up through layers, creates depth and texture on the canvas. What is especially interesting about Renoir’s impressionist paintings is that they were made during the period of early industrialization. Yet, Renoir went back to traditional methods of working, and painting by hand, rejecting the industrial modes of production that began to dominate society. The artist’s hand is celebrated in this artwork, reminding us of the value of individual skill and craftsmanship at a time when machines were beginning to take over. By emphasizing the process and the materiality of paint, Renoir invites us to appreciate the artistry and labor involved in creating something beautiful by hand.