Impressionism - Post #3

            Moulin de la Galette by Pierre-Auguste Renoir was created during the height of the impressionist movement. The scene depicted in this painting is that of modern Parisian life. We are seeing the outdoor courtyard of an old-fashioned dance hall full of jovial people. This painting was created on a fairly large scale of 4 feet 3.5 inches by 5 feet nine inches. Moulin de la Galette depicts a scene that is both spontaneous and lively.

            Renoirs impressionist style gave Moulin de la Galette a spontaneous feel. Renoir created Moulin de la Galette with loose brushstrokes. These loose brushstrokes give us the viewers a sense of speed, abbreviation, sketch, and most importantly spontaneity. His thick application of paint or impasto also gives the painting a very spontaneous feel. It looks as if Renoir very quickly captured this moment in time making the scene seem very natural and real. The dancers also give the painting a spontaneous feel. They are captured in mid movement as if caught in a fleeting moment in time.

Moulin de la Galette also seems to be very natural and spur of the moment because we are seeing modern life depicted. The clothing, light fixtures, and entertainment are all modern. Showing modern life gives the viewers the idea that it was taking a snap shot of what life was like at that very moment. The clothes being worn are traditional to the time period. The type of clothing depicted is appropriate to the time period showing that the painting was trying to accurately show modern life. We can also see that there are lighting fixtures painted all throughout the background of the painting. These light fixtures were new at the time, again showing us modern life.

            The impressionist style to me always seems to be very lively. Moulin de la Galette in particular shows a very active scene that is full of both life and energy. The loose brushstrokes gives the painting a lot of energy and movement that creates a very dynamic scene. The composition of this painting is very interesting and adds to the liveliness. Renoir chose to completely fill the canvas from top to bottom with people interacting with one another. Some people are out on the dance floor dancing, some are engaged in conversation, and others are sitting enjoying refreshments. Renoir chose to cut off figures in the scene giving the viewers the idea that the scene continued outside of the painting similar to that of a photograph. No matter where one looks at this painting there is energy and movement.

            Another key feature of this painting that creates liveliness and energy is the way the Renoir chose to capture the light. The light looks to be very dappled, as if it is coming through the trees. On the dance floor we can see where there are distinct shadows and where the sun is actually hitting the floor. The sunlight also can be seen hitting the clothing of the figures. We can see sunlight on the back of the man seated at the front right table facing away from us. We can see that there are highlighted spots on the man’s back and head where the sun is shining through the trees. The use of light adds interest and energy throughout the painting. The sunlight shining down on the figures makes the scene seem even more happy and joyful because it is a nice day allowing for this outdoors event.

            Renoir’s use of color helps create a very active and lively scene. He uses soft patches of color on brighter colored figures to show the dappled light shining through the trees above head. Renoir created the patches of light with soft pinks, purples, and white. While for the figures clothing he uses more bold and noticeable shades of color such as green, blue, and brown.

            Renoir’s use of loose brushstrokes, thick application of paint, scientific observation of light and color, modern depiction of Parisian life, and split second depiction of a moment all create both spontaneity and liveliness within this painting. This impressionist painting captures the true spirit of modern day Paris and gives the viewers the ability to see an exact moment in time.