Reading (La Lecture)

Discussion

FROM THE BARNES FOUNDATION’S CATALOG

Both out of paternal pride and financial gain (from portraits commissioned by wealthy middle-class parents), Renoir was motivated to paint children throughout his career. These canvases embodied a kind of wholesome innocence and nostalgia that served as a counter to the drastic societal changes brought on by rapid industrialization and urbanization. As Reading illustrates, Renoir preferred his young models to appear unselfconscious rather than artificially posed. This helped him capture the nuances of authentic gestures and expressions. The nebulous background suggests garden greenery and perhaps hints at the transience of childhood.

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