The artwork “Seated Woman in a Green Robe,” created by Pierre-Auguste Renoir around 1890, is an exquisite example of Impressionist portraiture. As a notable figure of the Impressionist movement, Renoir captured the transient effects of light and color, which is evident in this particular piece. The genre of this artwork is portrait, and the piece is currently held in a private collection.
In the artwork, the viewer is presented with a woman seen from behind. She is seated, with her body slightly turned, allowing us to glimpse her profile. Her hair is gathered in an updo, and she gazes off to the side, suggesting a moment of contemplation or perhaps a casual repose. The green robe envelops her form elegantly, its folds and creases depicted with fluid brushstrokes that convey both the texture of the fabric and the shape of the woman’s body beneath it. The green of her robe stands in gentle contrast to the warm, reddish-brown background, which isolates and emphasizes her figure. Renoir’s technique, characterized by the Impressionist movement, showcases his ability to capture the interplay of light and color, as well as the spontaneity of the moment. The brushstrokes are visible and dynamic, imbuing the painting with a sense of life and movement.