Bouquet in a Vase 1878

Pierre-Auguste Renoir made this oil on canvas painting. It is, as the title tells us, a bouquet in a vase. The brushwork here is crucial. Notice how Renoir applied the paint in short, dab-like strokes, a signature of the Impressionist style. This gives the painting a sense of immediacy, as though the artist captured the scene in a fleeting moment. The rough texture of the canvas is also apparent, adding to the work's tactile quality. While Impressionism aimed to capture the effects of light and atmosphere, it's important to remember that the style emerged in a rapidly industrializing society. Renoir and his peers were acutely aware of the changing world around them, and their choice of materials and techniques reflected a desire to break with academic tradition and embrace a more modern approach to art-making. Looking closely, you get a sense of both delicacy and materiality. That is the special genius of Renoir.