MUSEE ORSAY, Renoir Moulin De La Galette

The masterpiece before you is known as "Dance at the Moulin de la Galette", and is a perfect example of Pierre-Auguste Renoir's impressionist phase. The venue still exists today, but has been turned into a restaurant, and takes its name from galettes, typical French cookies that were included in the 25 cent entry price.

To paint it, Renoir went to Moulin de La Galette for six months in 1876, trying to fully immerse himself in the atmosphere of joy and fun that the place emanated, which can more generally be applied to all of Paris in those years.

Looking at the picture, you can almost hear the exhilarating music, the rustling of the clothes, and the voices of those who would spend a nice Sunday afternoon in this former mill that had been turned into an outdoor dance hall on Montmartre's hill. Join the party yourself, let the music pull you in, and let your eyes wander around the tables. Isn't it interesting that Renoir painted almost the entire work live, except for the last touches in his workshop? The decisive and vibrant brushstrokes and his free use of color defines the shapes by contrasting between warm and cold tones and between light and shadow....