Woman with a Blue Blouse 1883

Pierre-Auguste Renoir made this artwork, Woman with a Blue Blouse, with pastel. The art of Renoir and his contemporaries, such as Monet and Degas, sought to capture modern life in France. While some artists were interested in portraying the social disruptions and class conflicts of modern urban life, Renoir instead focused on pleasurable experiences such as leisure, entertainment, and intimacy. Looking at the subject of this portrait, one might wonder who she was and how Renoir knew her. Was she from the upper or middle classes? Where would she have lived and what were her interests? To answer these questions, we must delve into historical sources such as letters, diaries, and other historical records. Ultimately, art history reminds us that our interpretations are always shaped by our own social and institutional contexts, and we can see the world of late 19th century France reflected in this intimate portrait.