When Renoir painted La Liseuse he was about to participate in his final Impressionist exhibition, after which he would return to the official Salon and finally enjoy lasting financial success. By 1877, Renoir had nearly reached the place in his career where he could paint portraits wholly because he loved to do so, not merely because portraits are much easier to sell than landscapes. You see here the work of an artist who has hit his stride. There is nothing even remotely hesitant about his brushwork, and the composition is simple and confident - focusing, rightfully, on the reader's face in profile.
The sitter in this painting seems isolated by both her interior surroundings and the act of reading. We don't know what it is on those pages that has engaged her rapt attention. It seems quite clear, though, that we've stumbled across a scene that should not be disturbed, for she is obviously somewhere far away in her thoughts.
This painting is paired with Roy Lichtenstein's The Kiss (1962) in the exhibition Double Take: From Monet to Lichtenstein. Points to ponder: both canvases place great emphasis on color and surface texture, and neither woman is acknowledging our presence. In fact, both women seem quite oblivious to everything except that which might be happening in their respective minds.
About the Exhibition:
"Double Take: From Monet to Lichtenstein" is on view from April 8 through September 24, 2006 at the Experience Music Project, 325 5th Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98109 (on the Seattle Center Campus; Telephone 206.367.5483 or 1.877.367.5483). The EMP is open Monday through Thursday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Friday through Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Extended summer hours (effective Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day weekend) are 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM every day. "Double Take: From Monet to Lichtenstein" is a ticketed exhibition. Information on pricing and online purchasing of tickets is available here.