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Who is... Renoir?
The Canoeists' Luncheon and Oarsmen at Chatou
Born on February 25, 1841 in Limoges, Pierre-Auguste Renoir is the most popular and accessible of the Impressionists. His pretty, sparkling, frothy snapshots of everyday life, children, nudes and landscapes guaranteed him the most reproduced artist status. Renoir was not apologetic of his preference for attractive subjects as his oft-quoted line proves, "Why shouldn't art be pretty? There are enough unpleasant things in the world."
From the time he was 13, he was working to support the family. He started off painting flowers on porcelain. Once this job was taken over by machines, Renoir shifted to painting fans and screens. In 1862 he entered the studio of Gleyre and formed a lasting friendship with Monet, Sisley and Bazille. He thus became a leading member of the Impressionists who met at the Café Guerbois. He participated in the Impressionist exhibitions and was a founding member of the review L'Impressionniste. He first exhibited at the Salon in 1864.
He had to endure quite a bit of hardship in the beginning but by the late 1870s, had made a name for himself as a portraitist. By 1881, Renoir had "travelled as far as Impressionism could take me," and a visit to Italy in 1881- 82 saw a shift in his attitude towards painting as he adopted what is called the "dry style." He met the composer Wagner in Sicily and painted his portrait in 35 minutes. He also travelled to Spain and the Algiers.
In 1880 he met and later married Aline Charigot and the couple had three sons Pierre, Jean (he became a celebrated film director) and Claude.
Renoir who commented "I never think I have finished a nude until I think I could pinch it," revelled in the nude female form and this comes through in his "Bathers" series.
By the 1890s, Renoir began to suffer from rheumatism, which eventually crippled him confining him to a wheelchair. However, he continued to paint till the end with a brush strapped to his arm. He also took up sculpture by directing assistants who functioned as his arms. He died on December 3, 1919.
MINI ANTHIKAD-CHHIBBER
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