In the sixth part of the series, we take a look at the French collection of the National Gallery Prague. Czechoslovakia came into being at the close of World War I, in October 1918. The young state wanted to play an important political and cultural role on the map of Europe. That is why in 1923 it carried out a generous acquisition of artworks by world-famous artists (Monet, Cézanne, Gauguin, van Gogh, Picasso, etc.) that nowadays form the core of the so-called French Collection of the National Gallery Prague. This acquisition also included the large-scale canvas Lovers by Auguste Renoir, rightly counted among the top works of French Impressionism.
Auguste Renoir, Lovers and the Collection of the French Art of the National Gallery Prague
1875
Height 175 cm x width 130 cm
Oil on canvas
The painting Lovers by Auguste Renoir from 1875 is a masterpiece of French Impressionism, the art movement of the second half of the 19th century. Originally, “impressionism“ was a derisive term because the artists were blamed for leaving their works unfinished. Impressionist painters were fascinated by the momentary, fleeting moment. They were interested in light and its changes at different times of the day. They went painting in the open air, used bright colors and short, quick brush strokes. All these attributes can be found in the painting by Auguste Renoir. Unlike his fellow artists, Renoir never lost interest in the human figure. In this painting, he positioned the figures of lovers in nature, under the trees. He used his friends – a French actress and a painter – as models. The lady wears a blue robe typical of the period fashion. She has taken off her hat, which implies a relaxed moment. On the whole, the painting is rendered in a highly dynamic manner. Color spots alternate quickly, imitating the flickering light that penetrates the treetops.
The generous state acquisition was also meant to demonstrate the relationship between Czechoslovakia and France in the field of official cultural policy. As these were not random or gradual purchases but were all part of a one-off acquisition, the selected works exquisitely represent the art movements of the second half of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The works are highly representative and distinguished by their high artistic quality.
More about the project
