Sailboats at Argenteuil Pierre-Auguste Renoir Buy Art Prints Now
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Tom Gurney BSc (Hons) is an art history expert with over 20 years experience
Published on June 19, 2020 / Updated on October 14, 2023
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This painting is of 2 men on a boat in a Paris commune, enjoying the evening on the water. Artgenteuil is body of water for boats to pass through in Paris, France.

Sailboats at Argenteuil is such a peaceful image of an ironically busy waterway. These days we don’t think of shallow waters as types of areas as busy or industrial, but back in 1874 when Pierre-Auguste Renoir created this image it was a haven for faced paced trading and travel.

The tone of Sailboats at Argenteuil is that of a timid day that will be night time before these gentlemen know it. Light browns mixed with creamy whites, this piece sure does look like Paris.

French communes come in over a dozen different shapes and sizes and they're always a pleasure to watch, or even travel to. The heavy cream coloured sail of the boat is definitely the point of focus. In contrast with a shiny yet dark pocket of water this wide sheet grabs the attention the same way a modern day cruise ship does.

It's great to admire the reflection of our lead in the foreground, as well as the replica looking boats in the background. After grasping what this image truly has to offer you even consider [that about half of this painting is a reflection. Attention to detail has to be perfected to be a studied artist. The communes of Paris sure do reflect a lot on each other.

Renoir’s mood during this creation seems to be enlightened, and satisfied. The man closest to the middle of the picture has obviously had a tough day, and looks to be saying his last few words to an old friend before he concedes home to his wife and children.

Satisfaction is one of the most desirable feelings, it has and never will be a trend. The secondary boats on the water act as a reminder that we’re all in this together, and we can all get along with dignity and never greed. If we all only take up the space we need to sail our own ship, we’ll stay enlightened.

Claude Monet produced related paintings such as Sailing Boat in Argenteuil, Autumn on the Seine at Argenteuil and Bridge at Argenteuil. He also lived in Argenteuil for many years.

Blotting and clotting is all over this picture, and that’s a good thing. Sometimes seen as laziness, smudging can do wonders when trying to convey the look and feel of real life sea. Definitely leaving some signature on the dark clothed man on the dock. His shadow almost leaps off of the painting, like a sea monster.

In the late 1800’s, traveling and trading with others was tough to do without access to a sturdy vessel, it was truly a safe haven for businessmen and entertainment seekers alike. Boats will always play a huge role in society today, but back then you would basically grow up on the water.