Steps in Algiers Pierre-Auguste Renoir Buy Art Prints Now
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Tom Gurney BSc (Hons) is an art history expert with over 20 years experience
Published on June 19, 2020 / Updated on October 14, 2023
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It is no doubt that all Renoir puts his hands on flourishes with genius and excellence. His art is astonishingly beautiful

The way Renoir explores art shows excellent mastery. One of his fantastic art is named the steps in Algiers. Notably, he recounted to Ambrose Vollard, his art dealer in his letter about the reasoning behind this magnificent piece of art.

In the letter, he wrote that during the beginning of the 1880s, he had begun feeling like he was reaching the very end of impressionism and at this point, he could neither draw or paint. He thought he needed a change. He needed the inspiration to kick him back to place and find his origins to regain his zest to draw and paint and do so much more with art.

This feeling of being lost pushed him towards moving to more classic ideas not only of modeling but also of the composition. To this effect, he was bent on taking a trip to Italy. However. He promised another art before he left. This art showed the technical change he was going through.

It depicted the significant movement he was about to make towards the creation of higher compositions that encompassed more unity. His shift, which is highly reflected in the steps of Algiers, manifested his desire to no more extended focus on the expression of both light and movement instead he was more focused on the exhibition of coloring of the late Renaissance as well as of Rococo.

More so, his inspiration for the idea of the steps of Algiers emanated from the trips he had from Italy and later on to Spain as well as England. This influenced and changed his approach in a very drastic manner. Moreover, his visit to Algeria helped him to follow the steps of Madrid and Eugene Delacroix with the aim of studying the arts of Francisco Goya and Diego Velazquez. See also A Street in Algiers and Staircase in Capri by John Singer Sargent.

He was the only impressionist who pained about themes. His visits presented the ideas that he painted, for instance, his visit to Algeria influenced the steps of Algiers in 1881 and 1882. In his paintings, he depicts the exotic scenes of the ancient structure of Algeria and spectacularly captures many important things while at it.

Therefore, the way he describes the color and the way he depicts the themes of the places he visited. In his painting as he shows the topography of the space he explored. He provides not only important cultural background but also provides a historical context of his presence there.

Moreover, it is evident through his illustration that the place he visited is beautiful. The way the landscape can be seen from a different vantage point completes the setting. Moreover, the structure of the site shows the ethnography of the people of Algiers. It is evident that his travels to these different places influenced his direction in the painting.

Furthermore, it affected his inspiration to developing the most beautiful art of all times. This piece of art stores not only a historical significance but also carries a personal significance of the artist himself. In the painting, his artistic skills perfectly manifest in great ways.