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Renoir
Impressions of a sensualist: Painting life s pleasures
One of the leading lights of the Impressionist movement, Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841 1919) remains a towering figure in art history with enduring public appeal. Sunbathed, charming, and sensual, his work shows painting at its most lighthearted and luminous, while championing the plein air and color innovations of his time.
Renoir s oeuvre was prolific, with some several thousand works in his lifetime. Much influenced by forerunners such as Courbet, Degas, Manet, Delacroix, he worked with contemporary peers such as Monet to explore fresh uses of color and brushwork, rendering texture and depth with different-hued daubs. Drawn to intimate and tender human scenes, his subjects include lovers, mothers, and numerous nudes.
As his career progressed, Renoir investigated different styles and techniques, shifting away from the feathery Impressionist touch to a more robust, classical corporeality, sometimes called his Ingres period, and later to monumental pieces such as The Bathers. From the abundant output of his lengthy career, this essential artist introduction selects key Renoir works to explore his innovations in the art of painting, as much as his traditions in pursuit of beauty, harmony, and the female form.
About the series:
Each book in TASCHEN s Basic Art series features:
a detailed chronological summary of the life and oeuvre of the artist, covering his or her cultural and historical importance
a concise biography
approximately 100 illustrations with explanatory captions
"
One of the leading lights of the Impressionist movement, Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841 1919) remains a towering figure in art history with enduring public appeal. Sunbathed, charming, and sensual, his work shows painting at its most lighthearted and luminous, while championing the plein air and color innovations of his time.
Renoir s oeuvre was prolific, with some several thousand works in his lifetime. Much influenced by forerunners such as Courbet, Degas, Manet, Delacroix, he worked with contemporary peers such as Monet to explore fresh uses of color and brushwork, rendering texture and depth with different-hued daubs. Drawn to intimate and tender human scenes, his subjects include lovers, mothers, and numerous nudes.
As his career progressed, Renoir investigated different styles and techniques, shifting away from the feathery Impressionist touch to a more robust, classical corporeality, sometimes called his Ingres period, and later to monumental pieces such as The Bathers. From the abundant output of his lengthy career, this essential artist introduction selects key Renoir works to explore his innovations in the art of painting, as much as his traditions in pursuit of beauty, harmony, and the female form.
About the series:
Each book in TASCHEN s Basic Art series features:
a detailed chronological summary of the life and oeuvre of the artist, covering his or her cultural and historical importance
a concise biography
approximately 100 illustrations with explanatory captions
"
95 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1987
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599 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
July 16, 2022
Kocham Renoira za to, z jaką czułością potrafi uchwycić świat w stanie nietrwałości.
June 1, 2018
Renoir’s paintings are so warm, so human, and so colorful that it’s impossible not to love them. This book has color prints of a couple hundred of his paintings along with helpful and very readable text that mixes biography with an analysis of Renoir’s works. Beautifully done and reasonably priced for an art book.
February 7, 2026
ma star
January 23, 2025
Bellissime descrizioni che ti immergono totalmente nei suoi quadri. Bellissimo il corollario con le foto d'epoca..
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October 26, 2024Reading this book has been one of the best things that have happened to me for what seems like a very long time. It has reignited my love for art. My husband and I were visiting the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm some days ago (looking at the Romanticism exhibition) and I saw this book whilst we were in the gift shop; and my husband was so kind and bought it for me. I’ll forever thank him for this. Several years ago when we were learning about different art and literature eras in school, Impressionism was one of the movements that I fell in love with. However, I haven’t really invested any time into reading about it and the artists who participated in it.
I am a bit embarrassed to admit that I didn’t really know who Renoir was - I had heard the name and seen his paintings before (but often unaware of the fact that he was the artist) - but when I flipped through this book at the gift shop I was entranced by the paintings. Then reading of his career and life, and some of the movement itself, really inspired me. Now, I feel like I want to know everything there is to know about Impressionism and Renoir.
Renoir seems to have been a very amiable person and his approach to life and especially art was very beautiful and real. How the only thing he wanted to do was painting since it was his passion and love in life. His aspiration was never to be a leader in a new movement, to be a revolutionary in the art world. He just wanted to do the thing that he loved and aspire to be the best he could at it. Neither did he despise the artists that were before him, and thought that he could do art better than them; he realised that they were the masters, that they were the ones to look up to, and I find that very humbling and admirable - to be able to recognise the greatness in others without letting it haunt you in your own love for your craft.
He was also very unpretentious since he had the idea that art shouldn’t be anything else than beautiful. It shouldn't lead to anything else than joy and love for its beauty. It reminded me of a quote from The Picture of Dorian Gray: “Beauty is a form of genius - is higher, indeed, than genius since it needs no explanation.” For in my opinion beauty is the truest thing on earth. It just is. It doesn’t try to justify itself with different theories and explanations, it just exists. Is there for the sheer enjoyment of its presence. And I think that was something that Renoir understood.
Learning about his life and hardships really inspired me. How his love for painting made him live his youth in poverty since painting was the only thing he wanted to dedicate his life to. It made me wonder if I would ever have the courage to impoverish myself for the sake of my calling - which is writing? I now have the luxury to be a housewife and can therefore write in me freetime without having to worry about money since my husband provides for us. Further, reading about his sickness (rheumatoid arthritis) and how it crippled him still didn’t hinder him: he wouldn’t let the sorrow and pain be an obstacle for his painting - tying his brush to his hand since it was the only solution when the pain and malformation of his hand hindered him from holding a brush. He’s really an inspiring person. The fact that he never seemed to lose his hope, not entirely at least. He is a great example of how there is no obstacle if one really loves doing something, it’s all about attitude.
Finally, I find the idea of the impressionist movement in itself very fascinating; where the goal is to catch moments - every light and movement is essential to the painting. I find it very interesting since it is impossible: light is constantly shifting, whilst movements are inevitably moving to an end. Yet, the impressionists tried - and managed to do a very good job of it.
I am a bit embarrassed to admit that I didn’t really know who Renoir was - I had heard the name and seen his paintings before (but often unaware of the fact that he was the artist) - but when I flipped through this book at the gift shop I was entranced by the paintings. Then reading of his career and life, and some of the movement itself, really inspired me. Now, I feel like I want to know everything there is to know about Impressionism and Renoir.
Renoir seems to have been a very amiable person and his approach to life and especially art was very beautiful and real. How the only thing he wanted to do was painting since it was his passion and love in life. His aspiration was never to be a leader in a new movement, to be a revolutionary in the art world. He just wanted to do the thing that he loved and aspire to be the best he could at it. Neither did he despise the artists that were before him, and thought that he could do art better than them; he realised that they were the masters, that they were the ones to look up to, and I find that very humbling and admirable - to be able to recognise the greatness in others without letting it haunt you in your own love for your craft.
He was also very unpretentious since he had the idea that art shouldn’t be anything else than beautiful. It shouldn't lead to anything else than joy and love for its beauty. It reminded me of a quote from The Picture of Dorian Gray: “Beauty is a form of genius - is higher, indeed, than genius since it needs no explanation.” For in my opinion beauty is the truest thing on earth. It just is. It doesn’t try to justify itself with different theories and explanations, it just exists. Is there for the sheer enjoyment of its presence. And I think that was something that Renoir understood.
Learning about his life and hardships really inspired me. How his love for painting made him live his youth in poverty since painting was the only thing he wanted to dedicate his life to. It made me wonder if I would ever have the courage to impoverish myself for the sake of my calling - which is writing? I now have the luxury to be a housewife and can therefore write in me freetime without having to worry about money since my husband provides for us. Further, reading about his sickness (rheumatoid arthritis) and how it crippled him still didn’t hinder him: he wouldn’t let the sorrow and pain be an obstacle for his painting - tying his brush to his hand since it was the only solution when the pain and malformation of his hand hindered him from holding a brush. He’s really an inspiring person. The fact that he never seemed to lose his hope, not entirely at least. He is a great example of how there is no obstacle if one really loves doing something, it’s all about attitude.
Finally, I find the idea of the impressionist movement in itself very fascinating; where the goal is to catch moments - every light and movement is essential to the painting. I find it very interesting since it is impossible: light is constantly shifting, whilst movements are inevitably moving to an end. Yet, the impressionists tried - and managed to do a very good job of it.
November 11, 2020
Dieses Buch lag schon eine halbe Ewigkeit in meinem Bücherregal ohne gelesen zu werden. Um ehrlich zu sein, ich habe es nicht gekauft um es zu lesen. Renoir gehört zu meinen liebsten Malern und als ich bei einem Straßenverkäufer dieses Buch für einen unschlagbaren Preis sah, wollte ich mich einfach nur an den wunderschönen Bildern freuen. Jetzt, wo die Welt ein bisschen anders ist, komme ich endlich dazu mich auch mit dem Text auseinander zu setzen. Um es kurz halten- es hat mich nicht umgehauen. Abgesehen von den zwei Tippfehlern war ich ziemlich gleichgültig zu dem Autor. Die gesammelten Informationen wurden strukturiert bearbeitet, die Bilder-Beschreibungen waren ganz ok und im Großen und Ganzen war der Text gut lesbar. Ich war weit davon entfernt begeistert oder mitgenommen zu sein, dafür war die Beschreibung ganz angemessen zu dem Format.
Was die unglaublichen Bilder betrifft… Zu diesem Thema muss ich mich gar nicht äußern. Sie sind einfach nur großartig.
Was die unglaublichen Bilder betrifft… Zu diesem Thema muss ich mich gar nicht äußern. Sie sind einfach nur großartig.
January 14, 2022
This is a beautiful book! I often put it on display in my home because of the attractive cover of one of my favorite Auguste Renoir's paintings and because of the high quality photos of Renoir's art printed on heavy, glossy paper.
"When we look at one of the great collections of nineteenth century French paintings and finally reach Pierre-Auguste Renoir, we may feel touched by a certain festive cheerfulness which surpasses that of any of his predecessors. Art as something uplifting, a feast for the eye-this is how we can describe both the greatness and also the limitations of his art. Renoir had almost 60 years of active life as an artist and is said to have painted 6000 pictures."
I learned so much about French Impressionism art from this lovely book.
"When we look at one of the great collections of nineteenth century French paintings and finally reach Pierre-Auguste Renoir, we may feel touched by a certain festive cheerfulness which surpasses that of any of his predecessors. Art as something uplifting, a feast for the eye-this is how we can describe both the greatness and also the limitations of his art. Renoir had almost 60 years of active life as an artist and is said to have painted 6000 pictures."
I learned so much about French Impressionism art from this lovely book.
July 19, 2025
I am completely obsessed with Taschen’s Basic Art Series covering Impressionist artists… I found this book at a used book store and am completely in love. It will be on my coffee table for the foreseeable future!
I hadn’t spent much time appreciating Renoir previously, and so this book was just wonderful.
I love the structure going chronologically, seeing how his art changed over time. I loved appreciating in big full color his most famous pieces. I loved imagining his friendship with Monet🥲 The text was easy to read including elements of analysis & biography which was perfect for me.
Time to read every other book in the series!🥰
I hadn’t spent much time appreciating Renoir previously, and so this book was just wonderful.
I love the structure going chronologically, seeing how his art changed over time. I loved appreciating in big full color his most famous pieces. I loved imagining his friendship with Monet🥲 The text was easy to read including elements of analysis & biography which was perfect for me.
Time to read every other book in the series!🥰
September 27, 2021
I love the paintings of Renoir, he was such a talented and prolific artist. The Taschen book has lots of beautiful illustrations of his works but the text is a bit dry and although informative the style is not very engaging. I like Renoir's vision of beauty in flowers and the female form and that even when the painter experienced hardships, he suffered financial hardship in his early years and was crippled by rheumatoid arthritis in his later years, his difficulties never left their mark on his vibrant cheerful pictures.
August 11, 2017
Si tuviera una sola oportunidad para elegir, sin duda alguna elegiría vivir una vida de pintor impresionista-algo del siglo XIX. Con todo y sus problemas mundanos y de su época sus vidas suenan como el sinónimo completo de felicidad para mí.
September 29, 2017
i had this book, but just for short time.
Went to Art Gallery and met this master one more time.
Richness of colours are in comfortable harmony, people and nature are equal.
Not dreamt dream in human world.
Went to Art Gallery and met this master one more time.
Richness of colours are in comfortable harmony, people and nature are equal.
Not dreamt dream in human world.
June 1, 2020
How Taschen produces sumptuous books like this at such reasonable prices is a mystery. Beautiful illustrations, a nice survey of Renoir's work. The text at times is overly dry and scholastic, but for my efforts I now know much, much more about the man.
January 19, 2026
i love the warmth and the emotions and his paintings, you can clearly see how he was inspired by Delacroix. The way his arts evolves is lovely and even though he’s an impressionist, i love his last paintings, in which you can witness how he’s able to paint anything he desires
December 23, 2022
The main character is very fantastic
August 12, 2023
3.5 ⭐️, a very informative little piece!
January 4, 2025
It's the books you've never heard about in a charity shop that are life's great small joys
September 20, 2025
Really enjoyed this. I knew fuck all about Renoir's life despite having his paintings on my wall. Now I am sufficiently better educated.
October 11, 2025
The book is a complete biography of Renoir and paint.
January 13, 2014
No es fácil encontrar libros de arte, y este cumple el objetivo para los que somos primerizos en el género. Probablemente para alguien experto más detalles e interpretaciones sean más útiles.
Sin embargo en este caso, las ilustraciones son de buena calidad, representativas, acordes a la velocidad del texto. El texto es conciso, nada exótico de interpretaciones metafísicas, suficiente informativo para quien quiere comenzar a adentrarse en el tema.
Sin embargo en este caso, las ilustraciones son de buena calidad, representativas, acordes a la velocidad del texto. El texto es conciso, nada exótico de interpretaciones metafísicas, suficiente informativo para quien quiere comenzar a adentrarse en el tema.
March 1, 2013
I love the art of Renoir and this book was so delightful to read. It is filled with pictures of his lovely paintings and the story of his personal life and the artist society in which he lived. Feist gives instruction in understanding and appreciating his works, a great help to those of us who are not artists. I look forward to reading more about Renoir.
January 21, 2013
I love Renoir's art so this was an easy read. Interesting to see his passion for painting, especially as his hands became to crippled. I love his attitude! I look forward to reading his son's book about him.
December 17, 2013
Estas ediciones de la Täschen sobre monografías son geniales para repasar aspectos curiosos de la vida de un artista un poco por encima.
May 6, 2015
This was well done and easy to follow.
April 26, 2017
Excellent book. Great source of inspiration and nice overview of his works, technique, personal life of this genius. His bathers are exquisite.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews