Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Pierre-Auguste Renoir was a French painter who saw beauty everywhere. He was born in 1841. He was one of the leading Impressionist artists, and his paintings are full of warmth, color, and joy. He loved to paint people having a good time at parties, parks, and cafes. His brushstrokes were soft, and his colors were warm and glowing. Renoir wanted his art to make people feel happy.

Painting Happiness

Renoir's most famous painting is called Dance at Le Moulin de la Galette. It shows people dancing and laughing at an outdoor party in Paris. Sunlight filters through the trees and dapples across the scene. Another famous painting, Luncheon of the Boating Party, shows friends eating lunch by a river. Renoir used soft pinks, warm oranges, and gentle blues to create a feeling of warmth and friendship.

Never Stopped Painting

When Renoir got older, his hands became stiff and painful from arthritis. It was very hard for him to hold a paintbrush. But he never gave up. He had brushes tied to his hands so he could keep painting. He said that the pain passes but the beauty remains. He kept making art until the very end of his life in 1919. His determination inspired many other artists.

Fun Facts

• Before becoming a painter, young Renoir painted designs on plates and fans in a china factory.
• Renoir and Monet were close friends who sometimes set up their easels side by side and painted the same scene.
• When arthritis made it hard to hold brushes, Renoir had them tied to his hands so he could keep painting.

Did You Know?

Renoir once said that he painted with joy and that a painting should be something pleasant and pretty, like a beautiful spot to rest your eyes!