Meet a Real Renoir

Comments (0) By Bob Ruggiero Thursday, May 18 2006

Though it's now an art staple, impressionism hasn't always been so popular. At its inception in France during the latter 1800s, its practitioners turned well-established "art rules" upside down by utilizing visible brushstrokes, vivid color and nonrealistic depictions in their work. Artists such as Monet, Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec, Cezanne, Cassatt, Leroux and Gauguin created bold works that both delighted and shocked their audiences.

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Paintings, drawings, etchings and lithographs from these greats and more will be featured in the exhibit and sale "Renoir to Lautrec: Impressionism to La Belle Époque" at Off the Wall Gallery. And talk about pressure with the family business — Alexandre Renoir, the great-grandson of Pierre-Auguste and an artist himself, will make a special appearance. He'll be displaying his own work as well as discussing his famous ancestor. Just remember to be polite — you don't want to make a bad impression, after all. (Sorry about that, folks.)Opening reception 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. today. Exhibit/sale continues from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 20; and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 21.
May 19-20, 6-9 p.m.; Sun., May 21, 1-3 p.m.