Landscape 1900

This landscape was painted by Pierre-Auguste Renoir using mass-produced oil paints and brushes on canvas. The visible brushstrokes demonstrate Renoir’s technique, applying paint with short, broken strokes to capture the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere. Consider the material qualities of the paint itself. The texture and viscosity allow Renoir to build up layers of color, creating depth and dimension on the flat surface. The interplay of light and shadow across the canvas animates the scene, making the landscape almost feel alive. Renoir's technique reflects a shift away from academic painting, embracing a more subjective and personal approach to art-making. During Renoir’s time, advancements in paint manufacturing made colors more accessible to artists. The availability of ready-made paints in tubes freed artists from the constraints of the studio, allowing them to paint outdoors and capture the world around them directly. This painting is a reminder of the importance of materials and making in understanding the full meaning of a work.