La Colline Rouge c. 1906 - 1910

Pierre-Auguste Renoir made 'La Colline Rouge' with oil on canvas, and just look at that delicious palette, all blended pinks, blues, greens and yellows. It's a masterclass in softening form, like looking at the world through a heat haze. There’s a real sense of process at play here. Renoir isn't trying to hide the way he makes a mark, the strokes are visible and each dab of colour feels like a conscious decision. The paint is applied in short, flickering strokes, a technique that feels both spontaneous and deliberate. Take a look at the lower left corner, see how the blues and greens merge into one another? There’s a real push-pull between definition and dissolution that I love. The more I look, the more I see echoes of someone like Bonnard, particularly in the way he uses color to create atmosphere and mood. It's like Renoir is inviting us to get lost in the landscape, to wander through the fields, and to experience the world in a new, more colourful way.