Mademoiselle Legrand Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919)
Pierre-Auguste Renoir – Mademoiselle Legrand
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Painter: Pierre-Auguste Renoir
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This charming portrait of eight-year-old Delphine Legrand was painted by Renoir in 1875, early in his artistic career, when the painter depended on the decisions of a portrait commission to provide for his life and creative work, mining his fame as an artist. With her arms folded, the girl stands in an indecisive pose. Her defenseless gaze is directed somewhere to the side as if looking for support.
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Description of the painting "Mademoiselle Legrand" by Pierre Auguste Renoir
This charming portrait of eight-year-old Delphine Legrand was painted by Renoir in 1875, early in his artistic career, when the painter depended on the decisions of a portrait commission to provide for his life and creative work, mining his fame as an artist.
With her arms folded, the girl stands in an indecisive pose. Her defenseless gaze is directed somewhere to the side as if looking for support. Her portrait of Delphine is executed with clarity of detail and rich, bright colors prevail: wet brush strokes painted her black apron, a blue scarf tied around her neck with a bow, behind her - shaded in greenish paint blue curtain. Her gold medallion lies very peculiarly childlike - unevenly, as if it had been taken out from under her apron moments ago to adorn her clothes.
Delphine’s parents belonged to the petty bourgeoisie: her father was a merchant, and her mother made straw hats. According to reports, the girl’s painting was commissioned by her grandfather, who wished to exhibit Impressionist works in his shop. Granddaughter appeared on the canvas childishly charming and a little stiff. This work by Renoir evokes memories of the carefree world of childhood.
Along with other portraits of women and children, which so loved to write impressionist, in the creation of the brush "Mademoiselle Legrand" reads reverent attitude of the artist to a gentle human being.
Renoir’s paintings strike with life-affirming force - they are romantic, bright. Delphine girl is painted with the same love and joy that is peculiar to him. The sweet creature shyly shrinks her gaze, and the bright sapphire drops of her eyes shine with unprecedented beauty. Bold rapid strokes in the typical Impressionist style filled with oil fragments details of the appearance of Mademoiselle and colorful background.
Renoir again masterfully praises youth and the beauty of life.
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The artist’s handling of paint is characterized by loose brushstrokes and an emphasis on capturing light and atmosphere rather than precise detail. This technique softens the edges of the figure and integrates her with the background. The backdrop itself is rendered in muted blues and yellows, suggesting an interior space – perhaps a parlor or drawing room – though its specifics remain ambiguous due to the painterly approach. Hints of patterned wallpaper are visible, adding depth without defining the setting.
The girl’s hair, a vibrant shade of red-orange, cascades around her face in loose curls, contributing to the overall impression of youthful vitality and perhaps a touch of untamed spirit. Her hands are clasped gently in front of her, a gesture that conveys both modesty and composure.
Subtleties within the portrait hint at deeper meanings. The formal dress code might signify an attempt to portray the girl as belonging to a particular social class or adhering to certain societal expectations. However, the directness of her gaze and the slightly melancholic expression on her face suggest a complexity that transcends mere representation. There is a sense of introspection, a quiet dignity that resists easy categorization. The blurred background contributes to this feeling; it isolates the girl, emphasizing her individual presence while simultaneously suggesting a world beyond her immediate view.
The painting’s overall effect is one of restrained elegance and understated emotion, inviting contemplation on themes of youth, identity, and social standing within a specific historical context.