Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Luncheon (detail), 1875. The Barnes Foundation, BF45. Public Domain.
$100; members $90
(3 modules)
About the Class
This course introduces you to the life and work of Pierre-Auguste Renoir, one of the most celebrated painters in the history of modern European art. Focusing on the Barnes’s extraordinary Renoir holdings as well as masterpieces from collections around the world, we examine every period of Renoir’s career—from the radical works of the impressionist years to his shocking “anti-impressionist” turn in the mid-1880s and the strange, velvety nudes he painted during the last decade of his life.
In 15 engaging videos, we’ll look closely at the surfaces of Renoir’s canvases, studying the evolution of his virtuoso brushwork over the decades. Throughout, we’ll discuss how his paintings reflect the social and technological upheavals of the late 19th century.
About the Experience
- Self-Paced Learning: Access all modules anytime, anywhere, on any device. Watch and rewatch sessions at your own pace.
- Short, Impactful Videos: Each module includes five video sessions ranging from 5 to 15 minutes.
- Immersive Visual Exploration: The Barnes’s state-of-the-art Visual Experience Platform (VXP) allows you to see an extraordinary level of detail.
- Interactive Lessons: You’ll be prompted to pause videos and dive deeper into each painting, practicing the Barnes Method as you go.
Watch this brief introduction to the course and read more below.
Modules
Module 1
The Impressionist Years (5 videos, 41 minutes total)
Zoom in on Renoir’s impressionist paintings and discover why this new approach was such a shock to the Parisian art establishment, both technically and philosophically.
Module 2
Between Modernism and Tradition (5 videos, 38 minutes total)
Grapple with one of the central contradictions in Renoir’s art: his devotion to the same artistic traditions that he challenged as a member of the avant-garde.
Module 3
The Late Years: Paradise and Pain (5 videos, 40 minutes total)
Discover Renoir’s late canvases—the dreamy landscapes and nudes that conjure a premodern utopia and continue to divide critics today.
Instructor
Martha Lucy
Lucy is the deputy director for research, interpretation and education at the Barnes. As an art historian, she specializes in modern European art and visual culture. She is the coauthor of Renoir in the Barnes Foundation and has published articles and essays on topics ranging from the early charcoals of Odilon Redon to contemporary installation art.
Go Further
In Focus: Henri Rousseau
Study Rousseau’s enigmatic paintings using our state-of-the-art interactive platform. Zoom in on his strange imagery, and discover why Rousseau continues to captivate.
The Art of Looking: An Introduction to the Barnes Method
This interactive online course will teach you the basics of the Barnes Method of studying art, at your own pace.
The Art of Display: Exploring the Barnes Ensembles
Uncover connections hidden in plain sight by studying Dr. Barnes’s enigmatic displays of art at your own pace.