M. Renoir didn't invent a NEW image of femininity as much as he developed and he cultivated in an utterly inimitable way, God Bless him, the final and perfect description and appreciation of the sweet, old fashioned girl! Women as they might be, could be, and ought to be!
Nowhere is there that revolting 'imitation man' syndrome all too frequent among modern women and their promoters. You would no more describe a Renoir lady (and I use the term "lady" to include girls of 8 or 9 as well as their grandmothers of 80 or 90) as 'strong', 'assertive','modern', over-educated, 'independent' and the like---the descriptives for today's so-called women---then you would use descriptions of a sewage treatment plant to describe lovely and fragrant rare flowers in a garden!
M. Renoir was unique, we never really had anyone like him before, and we sure as hell never saw anyone like him again! We are much the poorer for it, I think especially women!
David K. Meller David K. Meller, United States
