The Girl With a Watering Can
Written by Teresita Blanco (The Artsy Sister)
I was looking through some Renoir things and I found a very nice painting. One painting caught my eyes, it is called "A Girl with a Watering Can" by Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Now it is in the National Gallery of Art.
It is an impressionist painting, so the brush strokes are soft and little blurry. Like when you remember a dream but not very clear, you know? Renoir painted it around 1876 — that is many years ago, more than hundred years. It shows a little girl, maybe six or seven years old, wearing a blue dress with a bow. She is holding a big watering can and standing on a garden path.
Some people say the girl was maybe a daughter of a friend or just a model. Her name is not really known. It is a little sad, because she became famous from the painting, but no one remembers her name.
The colors are like pastel but also alive. The flowers around her are bright red and orange, and they make the blue dress look more. The light is warm and soft — you can see Renoir was painting outside. They call this “plein air” painting, meaning painting outside in the fresh air with the nature.
One interesting thing I read is that Renoir was not trying to paint every detail perfect. The watering can, for example, is not the most important, even if it is in the title. What is more important is how the girl looks like she is dreaming, just standing there, maybe thinking about watering the flowers... or maybe no.
This painting shows how impressionism is more about feeling than facts. It does not matter if the watering can looks heavy or if flowers are not exactly correct. It is about the feeling. About the moment.
I liked this painting because it feels calm. Some art is loud, but this one is quiet. You can look and feel peace. Plus, Renoir’s idea was to capture beauty — especially everyday beauty, not royal or rich things.
If you want to see it, you can find it on the National Gallery website. It is public domain now, so you can download, print, or even use as wallpaper if you want.
So, this is my art blog for today. Go see the painting. Even if you don’t like old art usually, sometimes a little girl with a watering can is the kind of inspiration you didn’t know you need.
