The Bathers
Renoir spent three years agonizing over this masterpiece, sketching and repainting until he nearly went blind from the effort! Moving away from his signature fluffy Impressionist style, he wanted to bring back the solid, sculptural feel of Renaissance masters like Raphael. The two voluptuous women in the foreground seem to glow with a soft, peachy warmth against the dappled forest light, their forms rounded and substantial. Meanwhile, tiny figures splash in the background stream, creating a dreamy, timeless summer day. It’s a fascinating moment where Renoir tried to marry the loose brushwork of Impressionism with the strict lines of classical art.
- Technique
- Oil on canvas
Location: Philadelphia Museum of Art
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