Pierre-Auguste Renoir's Dance At Le Moulin De La Galette

FROM THE START An innovative artist, Pierre-Auguste Renoir was born on February 25, 1841, in the beautiful city of Limoges, France. He started out as an apprentice to a porcelain painter, and studied drawing in his spare free time. After years as a struggling painter, Renoir helped launch an artistic movement called Impressionism in 1870s. One painting that he created during this movement was Bal du moulin de la Galette or more commonly known as Dance at Le moulin de la Galette. The painting is housed at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris and is one of Impressionist's most celebrated masterpieces. The painting depicts a typical Sunday afternoon at Moulin de la Galette in the district of Montmartre in Paris. In the late 19th century, working class Parisians would dress up and spend time there dancing, drinking, and eating galettes into the evening.

LIGHTING UP THE TOWN

Renoir's use of light in Dance at le Moulin de la Galette as well as its sketchiness is typically Impressionistic. He bathes the figures in both sun and shadow and spots of natural and artificial light to depict the vibrancy of the scene. The sunlight contrasts well with the dark clothing, and Renoir's bright colored brushstrokes add movement to the painting. The sunlight filtering through the trees gives Dance at le Moulin de la Galette a cheerful and summery feel that is not depicted in most paintings during that time. The lighting really sets the scene for the other major factors included in the