“Acrobats at Cirque Fernando” by Renoir has been one of my favorite works since I was a little girl. It is housed in the Art Institute of Chicago, and when visiting there I have always made a point to see it.
When you first look at the painting you notice the warm colors of oranges and yellows that fill the background. This makes the work feel cheerful and exciting and because of the contrast of color, it brings the focus in on the two girls who are dressed in white. For me the two most prominent things in the composition are the girl in the foreground holding the oranges and the oranges themselves. There are times when I think of the painting where the girl and the oranges are the only two things I can remember about it. There is something very mesmerizing about this certain girl who is holding the oranges, and I think it is her somber tone in the midst of this circus. Unlike her sister, who is soaking up the audience’s approval with a bow, she instead turns her focus to the oranges that were thrown by the crowd
It is possible that I found a connection with this certain girl because I too seem to think more practically than either of my sisters. It may seem laughable that I think of myself as practical since I am an artist (as this girl is an acrobat). Regardless of the however I choose to psychoanalyze myself and simultaneously critique this work, I must say that this piece is truly one of my very favorites.
http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/arts/artwork/paintings-by-pierre-auguste-renoir7.htm
