242 - THE CIRCLE OR STUDIO OF PIERRE AUGUSTE RENOIR (1841–1919)

THE CIRCLE OR STUDIO OF PIERRE AUGUSTE RENOIR (1841–1919) Undergrowth of century-old olive trees facing the sun-drenched valley of Cagnes Sketch, oil on canvas board. This powerful study from life is structured in the foreground by the silhouettes of three old olive trees with gnarled, dark, and sinuous trunks. The forest floor, carpeted with grass and fallen leaves, is punctuated by deep contrasts of cast shadows and golden patches of light. Behind this intimate screen of vegetation, the foliage opens up to reveal a spectacular bird’s-eye view of the Cagnes plain. The plain is saturated with a vibrant, almost blinding light, rendered in a swarm of ochre, yellow, and orange brushstrokes that evoke the reverberation of summer heat. The background dissolves into distant hills and a hazy sky in soft gray-blue hues. Condition: As is. Unsigned study. Upper corners marked by studio thumbtack holes. Chips and small areas where paint is missing are visible along the edges, particularly on the right-hand corners (cardboard slightly chipped). Dimensions: 26 x 38 cm.