Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Luncheon of the Boating Party, 1880-1

Renoir is usually bunched in with the French Impressionists. His subjects were almost unvarying: women, women and more women! And usually tending towards the 'Rubinesque'. His treatment of paint could sometimes be too 'fuzzy' - subjects blurred and looked as soft as marshmellows - but I like the way he captures his handsome people in the moment. He's frivolous but fun. I tried emulating his style in Art class - with disastrous results! By the way, I like to think in this painting that the two guys at top-right are telling the lady a dirty joke.