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Renoir
Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) est l'un des grands maîtres de l'impressionnisme.
Son style unique, caractérisé par sa touche délicate, la représentation diffuse de la lumière et l'association habile des couleurs, souligne l'impression générale d'harmonie exprimée par ses tableaux. Plaçant l'individu au cœur de sa peinture, ses compositions reflètent une joie de vivre et une atmosphère chaleureuse qui vaudront à Renoir le surnom de " peintre du bonheur ".
Languages : Fr. En.
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Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) is one of the great masters of Impressionism.
His unique style, characterized by his delicate touch, the diffuse representation of light and the skillful combination of colors, underlines the general impression of harmony expressed by his paintings. Placing the individual at the heart of his painting, his compositions reflect a joie de vivre and a warm atmosphere that earned Renoir the nickname "Painter of Happiness".
Son style unique, caractérisé par sa touche délicate, la représentation diffuse de la lumière et l'association habile des couleurs, souligne l'impression générale d'harmonie exprimée par ses tableaux. Plaçant l'individu au cœur de sa peinture, ses compositions reflètent une joie de vivre et une atmosphère chaleureuse qui vaudront à Renoir le surnom de " peintre du bonheur ".
Languages : Fr. En.
--------
Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) is one of the great masters of Impressionism.
His unique style, characterized by his delicate touch, the diffuse representation of light and the skillful combination of colors, underlines the general impression of harmony expressed by his paintings. Placing the individual at the heart of his painting, his compositions reflect a joie de vivre and a warm atmosphere that earned Renoir the nickname "Painter of Happiness".
- GenresArt
240 pages, Hardcover
Published October 18, 2018
1 person is currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Martina Padberg
29 books2 followersMartina Padberg is an art historian and works as a freelance curator and writer.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 14, 2026
Visions of the Desirable Life
La Liseuse (1876)
I have keenly enjoyed reading this new entry in the Place des Victoires series about famous painters. Something I have not stated so far about it: this series adapted from the original Könemann/Koenemann edition boasts translations in English, French, Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese or Italian, these last two depending on the painter. I find it very convenient for quoting it on Goodreads, as I just need to look up the right section in the desired language :)
Bal du moulin de la Galette (1876)
As usual, this little book offers a short thematical and chronological biography of the painter, references for each work, maps to locate museums where the artist's works are to be found and where he stayed throughout his life.
Le Déjeuner des canotiers (1881)
Studying with Charles Gleyre along with Claude Monet, Frédéric Bazille and Alfred Sisley. He was very close friends with Bazille, then with Monet after the first one died in the Franco-Prussian war.
The painter's major influences are said to be Rubens, Watteau, Fragonard and Boucher.
*********
QUOTES:
'Renoir's father could barely feed the seven children in the family, which led to his being placed as an apprentice to a porcelain painter when he was just 13 [...].
The crisis of the French porcelain industry led Renoir to turn to painting on canvas. By the middle of the 19th century, the mechanical application of pre-fabricated prints to porcelain had gradually replaced [cost-intensive painting porcelain by hand].'
'[...] art historian interest in the work of Renoir greatly diminished over the second half of the twentieth century. His paintings with their bright colors, genre-like themes, and harmonious compositions were accused of being merely decorative. Especially his later work, including lush female nudes in idealized landscapes, was mocked as "chocolate-box painting".'
'Today, Renoir's work reveals much of the spirit of his times and his works are not just a naive homage to a world where all is well. They are founded on a concept of a freer, better life waiting to be discovered and appreciated.'
'There was a major shift in my work around 1883. I had taken Impressionism to the extreme and finally had to conclude that I was unable to paint and draw. I was at a dead end."
'By the modern period, the subject had becope detached from any moralizing sense of shame. Showing the nude in nature instead become an ideal of a harmonious naturalness that would be painted by many artists.'
Paysage algérien : Le Ravin de la femme sauvage (1881)
*********
See also:
Monet Claude
Degas
Musée de la Compagnie des Indes, Musée d'art et d'histoire de la ville de Lorient
Le goût de l'Inde
La Liseuse (1876)
I have keenly enjoyed reading this new entry in the Place des Victoires series about famous painters. Something I have not stated so far about it: this series adapted from the original Könemann/Koenemann edition boasts translations in English, French, Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese or Italian, these last two depending on the painter. I find it very convenient for quoting it on Goodreads, as I just need to look up the right section in the desired language :)
Bal du moulin de la Galette (1876)
As usual, this little book offers a short thematical and chronological biography of the painter, references for each work, maps to locate museums where the artist's works are to be found and where he stayed throughout his life.
Le Déjeuner des canotiers (1881)
Studying with Charles Gleyre along with Claude Monet, Frédéric Bazille and Alfred Sisley. He was very close friends with Bazille, then with Monet after the first one died in the Franco-Prussian war.
The painter's major influences are said to be Rubens, Watteau, Fragonard and Boucher.
*********
QUOTES:
'Renoir's father could barely feed the seven children in the family, which led to his being placed as an apprentice to a porcelain painter when he was just 13 [...].
The crisis of the French porcelain industry led Renoir to turn to painting on canvas. By the middle of the 19th century, the mechanical application of pre-fabricated prints to porcelain had gradually replaced [cost-intensive painting porcelain by hand].'
'[...] art historian interest in the work of Renoir greatly diminished over the second half of the twentieth century. His paintings with their bright colors, genre-like themes, and harmonious compositions were accused of being merely decorative. Especially his later work, including lush female nudes in idealized landscapes, was mocked as "chocolate-box painting".'
'Today, Renoir's work reveals much of the spirit of his times and his works are not just a naive homage to a world where all is well. They are founded on a concept of a freer, better life waiting to be discovered and appreciated.'
'There was a major shift in my work around 1883. I had taken Impressionism to the extreme and finally had to conclude that I was unable to paint and draw. I was at a dead end."
'By the modern period, the subject had becope detached from any moralizing sense of shame. Showing the nude in nature instead become an ideal of a harmonious naturalness that would be painted by many artists.'
Paysage algérien : Le Ravin de la femme sauvage (1881)
*********
See also:
Monet Claude
Degas
Musée de la Compagnie des Indes, Musée d'art et d'histoire de la ville de Lorient
Le goût de l'Inde
December 19, 2025
For this and many other books, Konemann is one of my favorite publishers among many others for art books. This particular book on Renoir brings together all the necessary elements to learn about the artist, his work, and even the historical context. Accompanied by beautiful, high-quality images and excellent text, it is like visiting a museum from the comfort of your sofa. We see the birth of Impressionism, the beginnings of Renoir's career, his rise to fame along with the rise of the entire Impressionist movement, and how they were mocked, humiliated, and their works denigrated.
What sets this book apart is the balance between historical context and aesthetic sensibility. Padberg does not limit herself to listing dates or technical data; she explores how Renoir was able to capture the ephemeral luminosity of everyday life and turn it into painting. That same sense of visual pleasure conveyed by his paintings flows into the pages of the book, where each reproduction is accompanied by commentary explaining his stylistic decisions without losing the poetry of his work.
What sets this book apart is the balance between historical context and aesthetic sensibility. Padberg does not limit herself to listing dates or technical data; she explores how Renoir was able to capture the ephemeral luminosity of everyday life and turn it into painting. That same sense of visual pleasure conveyed by his paintings flows into the pages of the book, where each reproduction is accompanied by commentary explaining his stylistic decisions without losing the poetry of his work.
June 6, 2022
Multilingual biography of Renoir that includes brief explanations of his life work while showing ~200 full color pages of his paintings. An excellent primer for all ages - introductory for adult readers but simpler language for any children who are interested. Definitely an art book to add to our home library, and I will be searching for as many of her other books as I can find.
February 6, 2022
Me gustó mucho conocer la vida y las obras de Renoir. Hubo pinturas que me encantaron, otras más o menos.
Creo que todos debemos darle un vistazo a los trabajos de estos artistas pues algunos fueron criticados y hasta burlados.
Creo que todos debemos darle un vistazo a los trabajos de estos artistas pues algunos fueron criticados y hasta burlados.
December 29, 2020
I'm very impressed with this collection from taschen. Would recommend to every art student for its images. The pictures have high resolution and average size.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews