Pierre-Auguste Renoir shows fifteen paintings. In such…

Pierre-Auguste Renoir shows fifteen paintings.

In such works as Bal du moulin de la Galette (1876; Musée d'Orsay, Paris), Renoir uses effects of dappled light and shadow to explore genre subjects.

Because of his fascination with the human figure, his works are distinctive among those of the others, who are more interested in landscape.

Thus, he obtains several orders for portraits and is introduced by the Charpentiers, patrons of art and literature, to upper-middle-class society, from whom he begins to obtain commissions for portraits, most notably of women and children.

He widens his circle of patrons through contacts at the salons of Mme. Charpentier, and shows two paintings at the Socíeté des Amis des Arts, Pau.