Critics debate the artistic value of painting joy

Critics and curators discuss the artistic merits of Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s focus on happiness in his paintings.

While many viewers find pleasure in his work, some critics argue that his focus on joyful subjects lacks complexity. Paul Perrin, a co-curator of a Renoir exhibition at London’s National Gallery, notes that the artist's portrayal of blissful couples has made his work popular but also invited contempt from those seeking more depth.

Renoir acknowledged the difficulty of making happy art that critics would respect. He chose to focus on joy because he believed there were already enough troubling things in life to depict. His dedication to these themes stemmed from his admiration for the Rococo period of French painting, which emphasized a harmonious relationship between nature and human figures. Although Renoir grew up in working-class Paris and witnessed poverty, he intentionally avoided these subjects to create a specific type of happy art.

Contemporary artist Ragnar Kjartansson also explores these themes in his upcoming exhibition at the Goodwood Art Foundation in Chichester. Kjartansson creates works that evoke ecstatic responses, such as a video installation where performers leap into the air in a grid. Like Renoir, Kjartansson balances these moments of joy with themes of sorrow and melancholy. The author suggests that both Renoir and Kjartansson treat the achievement of happiness in art as a serious and difficult task.