Suzanne Valadon, in a dress with a long train, and Eugene Lestringuez dances against the background of palm trees.
Suzanne Valadon (1867-1938), real name: Marie Clementine Valadon, illegitimate child, had a neglected childhood in Montmartre. At the age of 18 she herself had an illegitimate son, Maurice Valadon, who later became the artist Utrillo. She earned her living as a model; was a model and lover of Puvis de Chavannes and Renoir. Encouraged and instructed by the artists, for whom she sat as a model, she began to paint herself.
The open air cafes of suburban Bougival, on the Seine outside Paris, were popular recreation spots for city dwellers, including the Impressionist painters. Renoir, who was primarily a figure painter, uses intense color and lush brushwork to heighten the sense of pleasure conveyed by the whirling couple who dominate the composition. The womans face, framed by her red bonnet, is the focus of attention, both ours and her companions.
Pierre Auguste Renoir (1841 - 1919) was a French artist who was a leading painter in the development of the Impressionist style.
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