Renoir

Few artists have shaped our understanding of the atmospheric figure paintings of Impressionism like Pierre-Auguste Renoir. His painting "La fin du déjeuner," which has been housed in the Städel Museum in Frankfurt since 1910, serves as the starting point for an extensive exploration of a significant source of inspiration throughout his life: the Rococo. While this style of painting was considered frivolous and immoral after the French Revolution, it experienced a renaissance in the 19th century and was highly present during Renoir's lifetime. This comprehensive volume is published in conjunction with the large-scale exhibition at the Städel Museum and examines Renoir's multifaceted connection to tradition, based on illuminating comparisons of his art with works from the 18th century as well as those of his contemporaries. Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841–1919), as a trained porcelain painter, was well acquainted with the motifs of the 18th century. His depictions of domestic scenes and social gatherings outdoors evoke the visual language of the preceding era, reminiscent of Jean-Antoine Watteau's "Fêtes galantes.".