Pierre-August Renoir, one of the most prolific French artists of the 1800s, created nearly 6000 works of art in the sixty years of his life. His paintings decorated the homes of wealthy Parisians, and were sought after by Americans and Europeans. But who would have thought they could be so easy to find -- just $7 at a flea market!
Two years ago, a resident of the U.S state of
Virginia bought a box full of artwork at a flea market after falling in love
with the golden frame of the painting. She did not think much of the words
"Renoir" on the frame. The painting sat in her garage, and just as
she was about to rip out the artwork to reuse the frame, she was persuaded by
her mother to have the art work appraised. Imagine her disbelief, when she
found out that she had an original worth $75,000-$100,000!
Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841- 1919)
The painting known as "Paysage Bords De Seine" depicts a scene along France's Seine river. The riverside scenery was Renoir's favorite subject -- he would sit for hours with fellow students Claude Monet, Jean Frédéric Bazille and Alfred Sissly, experimenting with colors and brush strokes. These very same artists would later go on to start a new movement in art that came to be known as Impressionism.
Painting "Paysage Bords De Seine"
So what made impressionists different from other mainstream artists of 1860's? Art, until then, was realistic in nature with the subject at the center of the frame. Paintings were either religious in nature, portraits of famous people, landscapes or historical events.
Impressionism turned that around completely. Unlike artists who painted in studios, impressionists headed outdoors to capture scenes of everyday middle-class life -- the hustle and bustle of cities, lovers strolling in a park, tourists relaxing by the seaside or rural people at work. They used short and bold brush strokes to capture the changing nature of the present moment.
If you look closely at an impressionist painting, you might see nothing more than blobs of paint. But step away and the magic of the moment comes together -- the horse appears to be galloping, flowers swaying, and rivers flowing gently! The use of vibrant colors captured the changing effect of sunlight on the scenes they painted.
Renoir's art changed over the years, and was influenced by the different styles he encountered during his travels. Aren't we glad he took up painting, for as a child he was being groomed to be a musician! Don't miss this fascinating video that analyzes one of Renoir's famous paintings and his distinct artistic style.
From Youngzine
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