Bust of a Woman, in Profile
1884
Renoir painted this striking profile in 1884, a time when he was actually rebelling against his own Impressionist fame. He felt his earlier style was too messy, so he started aiming for crisp, classical lines—almost like he was trying to paint sculptures instead of people. You can see that battle in the canvas: the background is still that dreamy, loose blue wash, but the woman's skin is smooth and solid. It’s a beautiful example of an artist refusing to stay in one box.
- Technique
- Oil on canvas
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