This
painting shows an older Renoir’s Impressionism, a brightly spontaneous art
style he pioneered in his youth. Though his exposure to the beautiful classical
art of Raphael caused him to abandon Impressionism, he here returns to it.
In
this piece, bright colors and irregular brushstrokes give the painting a
vibrant atmosphere. But despite the energy of the painting, Renoir uses black-
a color categorically avoided in most Impressionist art. Nonetheless, this
shadow is very controlled; most of the canvas is so alive with moving color the
eye does not predictably focus in the same place for every viewer. Each color
of chrysanthemum calls for attention, while the vase stands out because of it
is comparatively defined. This definition contrasts sharply with the blurred
edges of the table, which classical artists had always clearly delineated. However,
Classicism does show its influence on Renoir’s Impressionism in this piece,
setting it apart from other similar still life scenes.
