Dance at Bougival

Dance at Bougival
ArtistPierre-Auguste Renoir
Year1883
TypeOil paint on canvas
Dimensions181.9 by 98.1 centimetres (71.6 in × 38.6 in)
LocationMuseum of Fine Arts, Boston

Dance at Bougival (French: La danse à Bougival[1]) is an 1883 oil-on-canvas painting by the French artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir, currently in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts, United States.[2] Described as "one of the museum's most beloved works",[3] it is one of three in a collection commissioned by Paul Durand-Ruel. It depicts a scene in the French village of Bougival, about 15 km from the center of Paris, a site utilized by many Impressionists besides Renoir including Claude Monet, Alfred Sisley, and Berthe Morisot.

The painting depicts two dancers surrounded by a lively scene of café goers. The painting's actual subjects are disputed, but it is well known for conveying the sense that they are in motion, making the viewer feel that they are actually there. Renoir used mostly pastel colors, but included a more vibrant hue in the hats of both the subjects. The larger group of paintings to which this one belongs is described as Renoir's last foray in Impressionism, and demonstrates the development of his artistic ability from his earlier works.

  1. ^ "Danse à Bougival - Boston, Museum of Fine Arts - Pierre Auguste Renoir". Sotheby's. Archived from the original on 2 June 2019. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  2. ^ "Museum of Fine Arts Boston - Artwork - Dance at Bougival". Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  3. ^ Sebastian Smee (3 August 2014). "MFA expands loans of well-known works". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on 28 August 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2014.