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A world detached from struggles of urban life: Renoir's rarely seen drawings on display
Pierre-Auguste Renoir, a master of luminous colours and sensual brushwork, has been reduced to mere commodity by blockbuster exhibitions. However, his lesser-known collection of drawings, pastels, watercolours, and prints reveal an artist of depth and complexity.
The Morgan Library & Museum in New York is currently hosting the first exhibition in over 100 years dedicated entirely to Renoir's works on paper. The show, titled Renoir Drawings, features more than a hundred pieces from various mediums, including pencil, crayon, pastel, watercolour, and red chalk.
Colin Bailey, director of the Morgan and curator of the show, notes that while Renoir's paintings are familiar, his drawings offer a fresh perspective on the artist. "Works on paper are not exhibited permanently in any institution," he explains. "Having access to watercolours and pastels expands our knowledge of the artist." The exhibition allows viewers to see Renoir's development as an artist, tracing his career from early academic drawings to late-period studies.
Renoir's journey began in Limoges, France, where he grew up in Paris and started decorating porcelain. He was influenced by Gustave Courbet and met fellow artists Claude Monet and Alfred Sisley, who would later define Impressionism. By 1869, Renoir was painting alongside Monet on the banks of the Seine, experimenting with a brighter palette and lighter touch.
Among the standout works in Renoir Drawings are delicate pastel portraits, such as Portrait of a Girl (Elisabeth Maître) (1879), and intimate late-period studies of his wife, Aline, and their young sons. The exhibition also features a suite of drawings related to the sculpture The Judgement of Paris (1914), created in collaboration with sculptor Richard Guino.
Bailey notes that Renoir's resilience and resourcefulness are evident in his later works, particularly during his struggles with arthritis. "Arthritis doesn't stop him from painting ambitious large nudes and landscapes," he says. "In a way, like Monet's cataracts and Degas's blindness, artists have a sort of muscle memory and they can continue to create."
The last comprehensive exhibition devoted to Renoir's drawings was at the Galerie Durand-Ruel in Paris in 1921. Bailey hopes that this show will amplify people's understanding of Renoir's productivity and showcase his accomplishments in different media.
Renoir Drawings is on display at the Morgan Library & Museum in New York until February 8th, offering a rare glimpse into the life and work of one of the greatest artists of the Impressionist movement.
Pierre-Auguste Renoir, a master of luminous colours and sensual brushwork, has been reduced to mere commodity by blockbuster exhibitions. However, his lesser-known collection of drawings, pastels, watercolours, and prints reveal an artist of depth and complexity.
The Morgan Library & Museum in New York is currently hosting the first exhibition in over 100 years dedicated entirely to Renoir's works on paper. The show, titled Renoir Drawings, features more than a hundred pieces from various mediums, including pencil, crayon, pastel, watercolour, and red chalk.
Colin Bailey, director of the Morgan and curator of the show, notes that while Renoir's paintings are familiar, his drawings offer a fresh perspective on the artist. "Works on paper are not exhibited permanently in any institution," he explains. "Having access to watercolours and pastels expands our knowledge of the artist." The exhibition allows viewers to see Renoir's development as an artist, tracing his career from early academic drawings to late-period studies.
Renoir's journey began in Limoges, France, where he grew up in Paris and started decorating porcelain. He was influenced by Gustave Courbet and met fellow artists Claude Monet and Alfred Sisley, who would later define Impressionism. By 1869, Renoir was painting alongside Monet on the banks of the Seine, experimenting with a brighter palette and lighter touch.
Among the standout works in Renoir Drawings are delicate pastel portraits, such as Portrait of a Girl (Elisabeth Maître) (1879), and intimate late-period studies of his wife, Aline, and their young sons. The exhibition also features a suite of drawings related to the sculpture The Judgement of Paris (1914), created in collaboration with sculptor Richard Guino.
Bailey notes that Renoir's resilience and resourcefulness are evident in his later works, particularly during his struggles with arthritis. "Arthritis doesn't stop him from painting ambitious large nudes and landscapes," he says. "In a way, like Monet's cataracts and Degas's blindness, artists have a sort of muscle memory and they can continue to create."
The last comprehensive exhibition devoted to Renoir's drawings was at the Galerie Durand-Ruel in Paris in 1921. Bailey hopes that this show will amplify people's understanding of Renoir's productivity and showcase his accomplishments in different media.
Renoir Drawings is on display at the Morgan Library & Museum in New York until February 8th, offering a rare glimpse into the life and work of one of the greatest artists of the Impressionist movement.
. Like, everyone knows his paintings are gorgeous, but I'm really interested in seeing how he experimented with different mediums & techniques in his drawings 
. They show a whole other side of the artist, you know? Not just some masterful painter, but also someone who was like "I can create something beautiful with a pencil or pastel too!" 
The exhibition is giving us access to his watercolours & pastels for the first time in ages - that's awesome! Renoir's journey as an artist is so cool, from his early academic drawings to his later studies. And it's crazy how he kept creating despite struggling with arthritis 
... talk about dedication 
. Let's take a cue from Renoir and continue to grow, learn, and create despite our own challenges 
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they show his versatility as an artist & how he experimented with different mediums 
its like artists have this innate talent that lets them push through obstacles 
and the portraits of his wife and kids were so sweet 
I'm pretty sure his pastel portraits are going to give me life... or at least make me want to color outside the lines like a 5-year-old again. The fact that he was still creating masterpieces with arthritis is just amazing, I guess you could say he was painting through pain 
. It's crazy how much we learn from these old artists and their "muscle memory"... maybe it's time for us to start remembering our own life skills? 
Anyway, if you're in NYC, go check out the show and let's get this art party started! 
and his watercolours are EVERYTHING 
just saw that Renoir's drawings are finally getting some love 
, but this show is really making us see him in a new light 
. I mean, think about it - we know he's amazing at painting, but these drawings and watercolors? They're like a whole different story 
And it's not just about the art itself, but also the person - Renoir's struggles with arthritis are so inspiring... he just didn't let anything hold him back 
. And I'm glad someone is showcasing the watercolors and pastels, but isn't that just a fancy way of saying "oh look, he was good at color too"? 
Don't get me wrong, the artist's development as an artist is probably interesting to look at, but can we not focus on something more modern for once? Like, I don't know, some new tech innovation that'll actually change our lives? 
did you know he started out as an artist who decorated porcelain? 
. and can we talk about how cool it is that he collaborated with sculptors on some of these pieces? like, what an amazing way to push boundaries 
His personal style isn't as flashy but it's so much more nuanced and interesting than his famous paintings. And can we talk about how underrated Renoir was? He didn't get as much recognition for his drawings like Monet did... anyway, this exhibit at the Morgan Library & Museum is a must-see if you're an art lover 
The show is giving me major insight into his development as an artist and how he experimented with different mediums. It's crazy to see him go from super formal drawings in the beginning to all these delicate pastel portraits and intimate studies of his family later on 
. I love how it highlights his resilience, too - like, who needs hands if you've got a great memory? 