Monday, December 19, 2005

Renoir: Jugglers at the Circus Fernando



Pierre-Auguste Renoir painted Jugglers at the Circus Fernando in 1878-1879. The painting portrays two pre-pubescent girls who have just completed their juggling performance in a circus. One girl acknowledges the audience’s response to their act, while the other girl stares into space, seemingly, in a moment of introspection. The audience is mentioned partially, yet significantly, at the top of the painting. Renoir created this scene to make a statement of our inevitable transformation from the innocence of childhood to the reality of adulthood.

Renoir was born in Limoges, France in 1841 and grew up in a middle class environment. He developed his artistic ability as a painter of porcelain, beginning at the age of 13. This had a lasting influence on his art. It also gave him an appreciation of eighteenth century Rococo artists. This experience and influence directed his handling of color, which led to the brilliance and luminosity of color in his later works. Renoir liked to paint thinly over pale grounds, allowing the grounds to “glow” through, enhancing the color.

When Renoir entered his career as an artist, he became friends with Claude Monet and other artists of the mid nineteenth century. It is with some of these artists, and their influence, with their struggle to be accepted by the Salon, Renoir helped define the Impressionistic style in the 1870’s. Renoir’s subjects during this time followed the typical philosophy of the Impressionists – middle class life in Paris, valuing single chance occurrences, such as how light reflects off an object in a given moment. Renoir also made observations of theatre and circus life, like Degas. It is this aspect of Impressionism that produced the painting discussed in this essay. Although the Impressionist movement was thought to be a radical construction at the time, Renoir “did not want to be a revolutionary”. He wished to paint beauty to show “a life of happiness and harmony”. After a career of almost 60 years and having painted about 6,000 paintings, Pierre-Auguste Renoir died in 1919.

Renoir painted Jugglers at the Circus Fernando in oil on canvas. The dimensions of the painting are 51 ¾ inches tall by 39 1/8 inches wide. The recreational subject matter - the circus - the free flowing, textured brush strokes, the bright color paint, the cropping of elements of the depicted scene (the audience above, the orange below, the circus ring wall on both sides), and the intensity of the light all typify the style of this painting as Impressionism. With this beautifully painted moment of leisure, Renoir is able to describe a phase of human maturation common to all of us, and full of anguish for many; that is the metamorphosis from a child to an adult. The compositional elements in the painting support this premise.

The two girls portrayed are bathed in a consistent, ubiquitous, warm light, which does not create many drastic shadows – everything in this area of the painting is “known”. This warmth is represented by the yellows, oranges and pinks Renoir chose to use to depict the girls’ forms and their primary background – the yellow circus floor. This elicits a feeling of security and innocence, which is inherent in the circumstances of a typical childhood. These girls are safe and protected as they reside in their youthful realm. The yellow ribbons in their hair tie back to the yellow hue of the circus floor to help anchor them in this proposed view of youth. Looming above them is the audience, which is painted in dark, cold colors, with haphazard and mysterious brushstrokes. The audience consists of adults whose features are not distinctly defined. The audience, presumably, extends beyond the edge of the painting, unseen, further enhancing its mysterious state. This is a world unknown to the jugglers and to the viewers, allowing the viewers to identify with the perspective of the girls.

While they reside in the same stage of development, and in the same spatial area on the canvas, each girl differs in her role within the painting. The girl on the left has begun her exploration of the adolescent stage of life on the road to adulthood. The girl on the right chooses to remain in the haven of childhood. Renoir uses a series of contrasts to separate each individual girl’s relationship to this transformation. One contrast is the body language of the girls themselves. The girl on the left is open to this idea of growth. Her arms are in the process of opening up as in a bow, acknowledging the audience’s response to their show. Her feet are separated, and she is looking outward, making direct eye contact with the audience. The girl on the right has her arms folded, holding the oranges, as if she is holding onto something precious, and at the same time, protecting herself. Her feet and legs are closed. Her eyes stare off into space at nothing in particular. This is a look of introspection; her mind is closed to outside influences. The direction of her gaze is in direct opposition to the point of eye contact her performing partner is making with the audience (personal note – this is one of my favorite aspects of this painting). She has her back turned against the existence of this strange and dark world.

Another contrast Renoir uses is light and dark values, accompanied with warm and cool colors and the girls differing interaction with these variations. The youthful innocence, inside the circus ring, where the girls reside, is painted with warm and light colors. The unknown reality of adulthood, the audience, is painted with dark cool colors. This contrast is enhanced by the differing brushstrokes between the two sides of the circus ring – tighter and detailed on the warm side, loose and undefined on the cool side. The girl on the right is enveloped in the light warm colors of the painting. The head of girl on the left, due to the open door in the circus ring, enters the dark cool background established by the audience, consequently, touching the audience on the two dimensional plane. This further supports the idea that she has begun this transformation. In addition to this, although Renoir has painted both girls using primarily warm colors, he enhanced each of their midsections with a cool blue. This coolness is associated with the cool darks of the audience, as if to say it is our emerging sexuality that is the conduit in the maturation process. I will address this notion later.

Renoir’s use of line is limited, yet significant, which parallels his use of the audience in the painting, although I don’t know if it was intentional. The most noticeable line is the curved horizontal depicting the top of the circus ring wall. This serves multiple purposes. Primarily, this line leads the view directly to the head of the girl on the left. This is an important part of the painting as it relates to the underlying statement, as this is where she physically enters the new and unknown. Renoir also uses this line to help frame the girl on the right, along with the right side of the painting, the bottom of the painting and the left hand girl. This encloses the girl on the right into the protective sanctuary of childhood, and within herself, further supporting the impression that she has not yet become aware the impending changes in her life, or is possibly ignoring them. The third purpose of the circus ring wall line is to separate the two contrasting worlds described in the painting.

Another prominent line is the one implied between the gaze of the girl on the left and the audience member in the upper left corner of the painting. He is pointing directly back to this girl, suggesting that he is acknowledging her awareness, and possibly encouraging her to explore further. This moment in the painting could be interpreted as a pedophilic remark, but I don’t know if that was Renoir’s intention. If that is the case, however, it would support the depravity suggested by the dark values and lurid brushstrokes Renoir chose to represent adulthood.

As the setting of Jugglers at the Circus Fernando is the circus, it would seem to follow that Renoir would use circle shapes as a distinct compositional element. The most abundant circles in the painting are the oranges. The girl on the right has collected them and clings to them. Four oranges on the ground around her feet encircle her, furthering the idea that she remains secure in the purity and perfection the image of a circle connotes. Renoir placed one orange at the left edge of the painting, in proximity to the girl on the left and isolated from the other oranges. This lone orange corresponds with the left girl’s departure from the security of childhood. The largest circle is the circus ring itself. This may represent the cyclical nature of life. We are only allowed to see one sectional arc of the circus ring, just like we are only viewing one portion of the human life cycle - the transformation into adulthood.

Earlier I mentioned the notion that Renoir may be suggesting in this painting that it is the emergence of our sexuality that facilitates our maturation. The reason I made that statement was due to a combination of the existence of the multiple occurrences of the triangle or “v” shape and its association with the cool color temperatures in certain areas of the painting. This “v” shape appears several times in the audience, manifested as the shape of necklines defined by their coats and shirts. This “v” shape also defines the groin or reproductive area of the girl on the right. The reproductive area of the girl on the left is also designated by Renoir’s use of the negative space between her lower legs leading the viewer’s eye into a slight line extending vertically. Renoir uses cool colors in this region on both girls’ bodies. As described above, Renoir also depicted the audience, or the adult world, with cool colors. The combination of these elements suggests a relationship between the girls’ sexuality and their inevitable course to maturity. Adding to that is the presence of one triangle shape at the top of the painting. This triangle is red, a color that is not used anywhere else in the audience. The red triangle is placed directly above the girl on the right and mimics the “v” shape on her midsection. It is as if this is a warning to her, and to the viewers, that she can try to remain in the comfortable shelter of youth, but her transmigration into this new dimension is unavoidable.

Like many of his works, Renoir painted Jugglers at the Circus Fernando in the Impressionistic style he helped create. He used his mastery of light and color to depict a Parisian scene of everyday life and leisure to make a statement above and beyond the forms and paint he used to create the work.

39 comments:

Sid said...

All this time I just thought the girl on the right was just watching some wacky clown thing happening in the center ring.
I suck at Impressionism.

Anonymous said...

Moist! Thank you for the analysis of this painting. I enjoyed your comments, and thinking my own. Besides used books & records stores and the public library, I love art museums. What a grand pleasure to tune in to Leper Pop this morning for "Art Appreciation." Really.

And there could be some wacky clown thing happening ...

Anonymous said...

I got reminded of art museums and one of my favorite works (not impressionism). (I pray this link works, I accidentally deleted the message I kept telling me how to do this correctly!)

People On Fire

Anonymous said...

whew.

The work is much more expressive than the link conveys. I am always struck by the connections of people through art. And the artist's phrase "the people unknown yet connected to the whole" seems appropriate to a whole host of situations. Like a blog page.

Anonymous said...

All I want for Christmas is what you are smoking. That is some good shit you got a hold of. Pass the fucking hookah pipe bitch.

Sid said...

Never at dusk...

Anonymous said...

la ray, are you talking to me? Are you talking to ME? Cause I'm the only one here ...

Or are you speaking to Moist. I never know with you guys ...

Sid said...

I'm guessing he's talking to you... that was some pretty wild shit about the whole unconnected to those that don't know about connections.

All Moist did was accuse the French of being pedophiles.

Sid said...

OK, is there anybody that thinks this is all BS? That maybe Renoir was just painting some circus chicks and didn't intend to do any of that or maybe did it subconciously. Like I said before, I suck at Impressionism, and I'm kind of blown away by somebody that can do that type of analysis and have it make perfect sense, but there's still a small sliver of me that wants to just call it BS. It's that small sliver of me that's an uncultured moron.

Anonymous said...

I personally enjoyed Moist's BS, excuse me, meaningful analysis of this artwork. But since everyone all y'all know I am wacky woman, I guess my opinion doesn't count.

Anonymous said...

2 comments:

Mr. Rub: So

Mr. F'er: Don't sell yourself short, Judge, there's a tremendous sliver of you that's an uncultured moron.

Anonymous said...

Like I said pass the hookah, Moist is fried.

The 3 men.......

Twitty
Seger
Springsteen

Sid said...

Represented by the Father, Son and Holy Ghost in American Pie, right?

Anonymous said...

but "starry, starry night" might go better with the art theme of this post.

and la ray, I thought we might be sort of friends and you talk to me like that. tsk tsk.

Anonymous said...

Could it be that the one girl's legs are apart because she was walking (movement of the legs is necessary in walking...correct?)? And the other girl's legs are together because she was just standing there, either waiting to juggle or just having juggled for the crowd?

Most people look at a painting and decide 2 things : what is it a painting of and if they like it or not. So, why make it more complicated than it needs to be? Life is difficult enough without trying to discern if a French painter was deciding the sexual maturity of little girls at the circus. Yes, no?

Sid said...

No.

Life is complicated, but sometimes you find complications that you enjoy trying to figure out.
Personally, right now I'm on the same level as you - what is it and do I like it. Per my first comment.

But I have to confess, I am impressed with an artist that can convey all that in a seemlingly simple piece and just as impressed with somebody that can see it all. If that's what it really is. I usually miss a lot of the symbolism in books and movies, too, unless the author sticks his hand out of the book and slaps me up side the head.

Anonymous said...

Let me explain... I took an art class for non-art majors at U of I. There was one girl in the class who had the artistic talent of the average third grader. She was very nice but couldn't draw worth anything. For the final project of the semester, which had to be at least 24" by 36", she drew a crayon drawing of her teddy bear. It was very simple and the lines were going in every direction as if a child had drawn it.

Now, the class talked about how it was an artistic statement for her to draw it as a child would've and how the outstretched paws looked as if it were reaching out for it's mother, blah, blah, blah. If, the most talented artist in the class - a guy named Ceasar - had drawn this, WAY below his regular level of perfection, I'd say that it was an artistic statement he was making. BUT, the class knew that all of her work looked this way. So, it seemed it was just a big load of crap that they read all of this symbolism into her drawing.

For better or for worse, that experience has forever altered my perception of artistic symbolism. Well, that and when people submerge objects in jars of urine and try to call that art....

Moist Rub said...

Bye and Bye
I want a piece of pie
Pie's too sweet
I want a piece of meat
Meat's too red
I want a piece of bread
Bread's too brown
I want to go to town
Town's too far
I want to catch a car
Car's too fast
Fall and break my ass
Bye and Bye

Anonymous said...

I'll understand it better,
Bye and bye

Sid said...

If I stick a small sculpture in a jar of urine can I still call it art?

Moist Rub said...

"Like I said pass the hookah, Moist is fried."

I think this line is a candidate to make it onto a Leper Pop t-shirt.

Moist Rub said...

Marcel Duchamp would. Why can't you?

Anonymous said...

Well now, this is art,

Pink Bunny

and I don't need the hookah to get high, l a ray, so you can keep it. Wise word verification is sharing "zhfchsyc" with me. Merry Christmas. :-D

Anonymous said...

well now

that didn't work. I must have had a little too much of the hookah before I gave it to l a ray.

Here's the url to cut and paste:

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_1541732.html

Happy pink bunny!

Anonymous said...

Once upon a time, I found your photos of the fabulous trip out to Hollywood for th RS:INXS taping. (This trip apparently occurred before I was infected with Leper Pop.) I only skimmed through them that day, and had hoped to review them in more detail. Alas, I cannot find them.

As much as I enjoy the old blog entries, I'll beg here - please oh please tell me what post they were in!

Maybe I'll be able to take a look at them after the holidays!

Happy happy, joy joy all y'all!

Sid said...

I have no idea why somebody would want to view that photojournalistic nightmare again, but

You can find leperpop's photos and profile info at: LeperPop

Anonymous said...

Thank you.

I find it hilarious. And a bit scary. Just a little too much like something Chai-rista & I would do ...

Mayhaps the album will find it way to the coffee table at Leper House?

Anonymous said...

key we are sort of friend, i just don't know it yet. give me time i'll come around.

Anonymous said...

Moist,

Where is the Fat Lady at this Circus?

Sid said...

At the circus... duh.

Moist Rub said...

I don't take requests, fruitbar.

Smoothmagne said...

not your funniest work...


is this an old school paper? Or did you just wake up with young girls in tights holding balls on your mind???

Anonymous said...

Sid - not that you need my permission but, whenever you feel the urge to dunk things in urine, you may call it whatever you like.

Anonymous said...

...a Leper Pop t-shirt??!! Can I have the first one of the press?

Anonymous said...

L A RAY, since you are the one who said: Like I said pass the hookah, Moist is fried., if that becomes the logo on the Leper Pop t-shirt, then you DESERVE to get the first one.

I'm staying out of your way though. You talk nasty to me and my dishwasher breaks down, my child gets sick, and my car dies. Coincidence? Hmmm.

Oh, and I can't get to mc.org. Mr. Key - my resident computer geek - did some hoo-doo called ping and traceroute and I don't know what all. There is some breakdown in the mystic, magical network somewhere.

I had BETTER get LH music for Christmas now. I'll be in withdrawal. But at my in-laws! aaarrrrrggggghhh ...

Anonymous said...

hey now don't blame me for your random misJDfortunes

Anonymous said...

CUTE, l a ray! MisJDfortunes. Heh, heh.

I'll be OK, I'll just rock here in the corner quietly for awhile.

Rock, quiet? No way! Happy New Year!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Quoting sid f'er:
OK, is there anybody that thinks this is all BS? That maybe Renoir was just painting some circus chicks and didn't intend to do any of that or maybe did it subconciously...I'm kind of blown away by somebody that can do that type of analysis...to just call it BS

I heartily agree with that and aunt nina's experience from art class

Unknown said...

It's a shame that a painting such as this one, and such an insightful and thoughtful study of it has attracted the attention of ignorant morons.