Through a Renoir Window

A dress that made my morning coffee more interesting

Painting through a window. Artist unknown. Photo by Mark Tulin

“For me, a painting must be a pleasant thing, joyous and pretty — yes, pretty. There are too many unpleasant things in life for us to fabricate still more.” — Pierre-Auguste Renoir

I wasn’t in a good mood on my way to the coffee shop, but when I looked at a pretty blue dress in a picture window my gloomy world changed.

It was as if I saw the eye-popping color of Renoir’s imagination. His palette of oils mixed like a sorcerer. The portrait made me richer and more joyful. A vision lingered like sensual eyes.

I imagined that Renoir soaked his brushes in hope, sanctified his canvas with love, stood at heaven’s gate and dressed his goddess with an unforgettable dress in a blue that included all the others —

periwinkle blue lavender blue neon blue powder blue savoy blue Persian blue Egyptian blue ultramarine blue midnight blue and navy blue

which came together in one surreal garment, as if it were a kaleidoscope of dreamy portraits.

But when I looked up from the dress, I expected a goddess equal to a beautiful gown — instead, I saw a cat’s head. I loved cats, and this cat was adorable but it tainted the gown.

As I made my way to the coffee shop for my usual Americano and a cardamom bun, I couldn’t get the image out of my mind.

I took a sip of coffee and then it hit me — who is wearing the dress is just as important as the dress. I’m sure Renoir would agree.

© 2024 Mark Tulin

Three of my favorite paintings by Pierre-Auguste Renoir featuring the color blue are: 1) Woman in a Blue Dress Standing in the Garden of Saint-Cloud 1899. 2) La Parisienne, 1874. 3) Young Girl in a Blue Dress, 1890. The image of the dress in the window triggered these Renoir paintings.

Here’s a post full of magic—black and white. To understand more about Voodoo, read New Orleans—Serving Spirits Since the 1700s by Gauri Sirur.

[embed]New Orleans — Serving Spirits Since the 1700s Won’t you take me to Voodoo Town?medium.com