This book is the first to examine Renoir's handling of fashion and textiles, so opening up a fresh approach to the initially fêted artist who came under suspicion of kitsch in the 2 th century. In her pictorial analysis, Agnes Sawer questions the cliché of the " painter of happiness" and shows how Renoir used textile structures and textures to develop an innovative, pioneering visual approach for the next generation of artists. To this end, she examines works that have rarely been considered in Renoir research to date. The author sheds light on the splendour of the fabrics in his painted interiors, and the depiction of fashion, accessories and handicrafts in Renoir's portraits of women. The painting Bal du Moulin de la Galette is used as an example showing how textiles even permeate Renoir's artistic compositions.

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• First comprehensive study on fashion and textiles in Renoir's painting
• New starting point in Renoir research, with a focus on pictorial subjects that have rarely been considered to date