Mary’s Landscape Art Info

Pierre-August Renoir (1841-1919) thought a picture should be a pleasant thing, joyful and pretty. He loved painting lovely female faces and forms, sunlit meadows and gardens, and open-air cafes.

Renoir invented the dappled-light effect which he used so effectively throughout his career. He never used black and sometimes his figures went off the edge of the page. His early paintings have a snapshot feel – a slice of life has been captured on canvas before the scene shifts. The dappled light, the quick brushstrokes and sketchiness of painting resulted in a distinctive impressionist look.

Later, instead of focusing on fleeting moments, he wanted his art to make a lasting impression. He went to Rome to study with the Renaissance masters and especially liked Raphael’s work. As a result, his figures became much more solid. Solid figures and blurred backgrounds became the trademark of his mature style.