The painting "The Umbrellas" by Pierre-Auguste Renoir is a masterfully created illusion of black color

"The Umbrellas" is a painting by the universally acclaimed genius Pierre-Auguste Renoir, depicting the hustle and bustle of people on a rainy day on one of the streets of Paris. In this work, the artist combines elements of two arts - visual and photographic. From a painting perspective, the artwork astonishes with its virtuoso use of color, while its photographic quality is expressed through the realism and immediacy of the scene. The artist deliberately crops the edges of human figures, similar to frames on a roll of film. The attention is focused on four female characters who stand out from the crowd. In the foreground, there is a tired girl with a basket, her gaze directed straight at the viewer, adding to the realism of the image. The heroine's long dark dress is in the fashion of 1886. On the right side of the painting, there is a young mother who beckons her children. Her clothing reflects the fashionable trends of 1881. In the center of the composition, there is a woman under an umbrella. She looks around with a slight smile, observing a lovely little girl with a hoop. It is this little girl who conveys the emotional state of the author. Her charming face, childlike openness, naivety, and immediacy attract the viewers' attention. In the background, numerous umbrellas obscure the human figures. Their uniformity in shape and color creates a sense of endless routine that dulls emotions and the desire to create. The artist imbued the artwork with a special meaning: the bustle, depicted through the accumulation of identical umbrellas, consumes people's lives and energy. The color scheme of the painting is characterized by the saturation of contrasting colors and shades. The painter managed to create the illusion of black paint using various tones, gradients, and pigment combinations.

Pierre-Auguste Renoir. The Umbrellas, 1881-1886

• Title of the painting: "The Umbrellas" (French: « Les Parapluies »).
• Artist: Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919).
• Year of creation: 1881-1886.
• Dimensions: 180 x 115 cm.
• Style: Impressionism.
• Genre: Genre painting.
• Technique: Oil painting.
• Material: Canvas.
• Location: National Gallery, London, United Kingdom.

Auguste Renoir was an extraordinary master of painting, drawing, and sculpture who worked at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. He is known worldwide as a prominent representative of Impressionism. The artist's masterpieces stand out for their striking use of broken brushstrokes and meticulous work with color.

The painter started working on the painting shortly before his trip to Italy, where he lived from 1881 to 1882. However, the work remained unfinished for five years. According to art experts, this is evident from the styles of women's dresses. Moreover, there are signs of the artist's evolving style, which transcended the impressionistic nature of the depiction. The images of the girl with the basket and the young people in the background reflect the influence of the classical style with its strict forms and symmetrical proportions. The domes of the umbrellas also have distinct contours, creating incredible volume and dynamism.

"The Umbrellas" by Pierre-Auguste Renoir is a vivid and harmonious masterpiece, one of the most original and balanced works of the painter. The artwork is rich in vibrant details and accurately conveys the mood of a bygone era.