Impressionist Pierre Renoir often chose to paint festive, colorful scenes of popular recreation. During 1882-1883 he completed three life-sized compositions of dancing couples.

One of these large canvases (in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston) features dancers at the open-air café in Bougival, a suburb of Paris. This small sketch was probably made years later.

The man gazes at his partner with rapt attention, as short, choppy brush strokes convey their whirling motion.

(back to top)