L'œuvre en bref

Painted in the summer of 1869, La Grenouillère stands as a foundational work in the history of modern art. Auguste Renoir painted it alongside Claude Monet, both artists having set up on the banks of the Seine at Bougival, where they planted their easels in front of this famous floating bathing establishment and restaurant prized by Parisians. This friendly rivalry between the two painters gave rise to several versions of the same motif and marks the true birth of Impressionism: the fragmented brushstroke, the capturing of light on water, and the interest in modern leisure find here an unprecedented expression. La Grenouillère, a popular leisure spot, would become an emblematic subject also taken up by Gustave Caillebotte.

The painting is organised around a circular pontoon crowded with elegant figures in their Sunday best: pale dresses, ribboned hats, and dark frock coats mingle in a lively crowd. On the left, bathers splash about in the water, while on the right a floating pavilion overlooks the scene. In the foreground, two moored boats float on water whose reflections are rendered through a succession of horizontal strokes, juxtaposed blues, greens, whites, and blacks, which create an aquatic shimmer of striking vividness. The foliage of the tall trees unfolds in vibrant patches, filtering the summer light. Through this still experimental technique, Renoir captures no longer the form of things but the visual sensation of a single moment, laying the foundations of a pictorial revolution that would lastingly transform Western painting.

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