The artwork titled “The Coiffure (Young Girl Combing Her Hair)” is a creation of Pierre-Auguste Renoir, dated to the year 1896. It is executed in oil on canvas and stands as an exemplary piece of the Impressionist movement, categorized under the genre painting type. Currently, this artwork is held within a private collection, not on public display.
The artwork captures a moment of intimate self-care, depicting a young girl engaged in the act of combing her hair. The model is turned away from the viewer, highlighting the curvature of her back and the delicate movement of her arms as she tends to her tresses. Renoir’s use of soft, muted color and rapid brushstrokes imbue the scene with warmth and vibrancy, characteristics that are emblematic of Impressionism. The young girl’s features are rendered with a fluidity that suggests movement and life, while the contrast between the smooth texture of her skin and the feathery strokes of her hair accentuates the tactile aspects of the painting.
Light appears to play a critical role in this composition, both in illuminating the subject and in contributing to the overall atmosphere. Renoir’s skill in capturing the effects of light on the form and fabric enhances the sensation of a fleeting moment being preserved in time. The choice of subject, a moment of everyday life, is consistent with the genre painting tradition, which focuses on the depiction of ordinary scenes and experiences. Overall, the artwork exudes a sense of tranquility and the pleasures found in life’s simple moments, a recurring theme within Renoir’s oeuvre and the broader Impressionist movement.
