The latest in the wonderful Exhibition on Screen series,  this film focuses on the amazing Barnes collection in Philadelphia.

Pierre Auguste Renoir, the famous French Impressionist painter, produced approximately seven thousand works, and the Barnes collection houses about 180 of them, mostly his ‘late’ works.

Renoir’s paintings mostly feature saturated colour and vibrant light , often concentrating on people in intimate and candid compositions. The lush, sensuous female nude was one of his major subjects that he constantly returned to. He was fascinated by the play of light on flesh and the changes in texture.

The Barnes collection concentrates on his late work. We learn about the influence of artists such as Delacroix, Courbet and Manet on the great artist’s work.

Renoir became a great success in his lifetime and was renowned among his peers. Monet and Matisse were admirers, while Picasso avidly collected Renoir’s paintings.

The documentary features quotes from his son, the famous filmmaker Jean Renoir.

We follow various experts as they trace and explain the developments and shifts in Renoir’s work,

Excitingly we see how one work ( a family portrait , without Renoir himself in it ) is x – rayed and analysed. There are plenty of luminous, lavish closeups of particular works and we see how the exhibition is, it looks rather awkwardly at times, hung in the Barnes collection.

Also importantly discussed is Renoir’s attitude to women as presented in his paintings.  An extensive part of the film examines the way in which people currently view Renoir’s work, which is quite different in attitude from when Renoir himself was alive.

Our society’s attitude is different and what we regard as bad behaviour is not the same as it used to be. While his paintings of nude may have been appreciated 100 years ago, his possibly misogynist attitudes have changed the way in which contemporary critics view his work . ( Were Renoir’s attitudes misogynistic?! You have to decide for yourself ).

Presently his nude paintings are viewed as disgusting, with one critic dismissing the women in the paintings as “bovine” looking. The critics and experts speak of the subjects lacking any sort of intelligence in their expressions, citing this as a visible depiction of Renoir’s attitudes towards women. It’s fascinating to see how the critical view of something changes from person to person depending on what they bring to the topic as well as the society they currently live in. Others however love his lush, joyous use of colour and the decorative beauty.

We also hear from art dealers and see stock books from the dealers of the period revealing how much (or little) was paid. As well there is rare amazing black and white footage of Renoir painting in a wheelchair when he was old.

This was a fascinating film that will have appeal to all art lovers.

Running time allow an hour 45 minutes no interval

Exhibition On Screen’s presentation RENOIR: REVERED AND REVILED from the Barnes Foundation Philadelphia is screening at selected arthouse cinemas from April  16.

http://www.exhibitiononscreen.com/en-uk/our-films/season-3/renoir#prettyPhoto

http://www.sharmillfilms.com.au/?page_id=4007