Pierre-Auguste Renoir, an iconic figure of Impressionism, immortalized light and joy of life with a unique gentleness. Through his paintings, he captured fleeting moments, revealing the simple and profound beauty of everyday life. But beyond his brushstrokes, Renoir also expressed himself with precision and poetry, offering reflections full of wisdom on art, life and emotion.
In this article from Art Shortlist, discover ten essential quotes by Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Ten bursts of thought where sensitivity, passion, and the perspective of a deeply human artist intertwine. Let yourself be carried away by Renoir’s sincere voice and explore a world where each word illuminates his love for beauty and creation.
by Art Shortlist - June 11, 2025
1 - Pain passes, but beauty remains.
2 - One morning, one of us, lacking black, used blue instead: Impressionism was born.
3 - To me, a painting should be something pleasant, cheerful and pretty, yes, pretty! There are enough annoying things in life without us creating more.
4 - This drawing took me five minutes, but it took me sixty years to get there.
5 - There is something more in painting, something that cannot be explained, something essential.
6 - In truth, we no longer know anything; we’re no longer sure of anything. When we look at the works of the old masters, we really have no reason to act smug.
7 - Without him, I would have given up. (speaking of Claude Monet)
8 - Painting is learned in museums.
9 - We never say "I will be a painter" in front of a beautiful landscape, but in front of a beautiful painting.
10 - You approach nature with theories and nature throws them all to the ground.
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