Folly or Fabulous?

Everyone loves the French Impressionists, right? Not exactly. And not when they were new.

Take Luncheon of the Boating Party, for instance. When I read that Pierre-Auguste Renoir initially thought this painting was pure folly, I just about fell out of my chair. In the 150 or so years since it was created, most viewers have agreed that it's one of his best.

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The scene takes place at the Maison Fournaise, a popular riverside restaurant just outside Paris. Renoir shows us a group of well-dressed young Parisians (his girlfriend, brother, and many of their friends) lounging on a balcony after a meal—chatting, flirting, laughing, and generally enjoying the simple pleasure of being alive on a beautiful day. No big drama, no moral lesson, no tragic backstory. Just relaxing afternoon vibes.

What makes the painting so fun is how alive it feels. Everyone seems caught mid-conversation, mid-smile, mid-sip. The figures overlap, lean into one another, and crowd the space in a way that feels completely natural, like a candid photo taken before cameras could do that sort of thing. Renoir was obsessed with capturing human warmth, and it shows. This is not a stiff, posed gathering. It’s messy, social, and delightfully human. With so many figures, however, it did take an extraordinarily long time to paint, which he initially felt he could have and should have devoted to more lucrative commissions.

And then there’s the natural sunlight that fills the canvas. Renoir lets it bounce off white tablecloths, straw hats, glassware, and skin, creating that golden, hazy glow. His brushstrokes are loose and energetic, giving everything a soft shimmer—as if the whole scene is gently vibrating with conversation and clinking glasses.

I hope I haven't ruined it for you by giving it a fictional dark edge in my historical mystery,

Revenge Among the Renoirs!

In short, Luncheon of the Boating Party is Renoir at his most joyful. It reminds us that art doesn’t always have to be heavy or serious to be meaningful.

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Discover more: If you're now hooked on Pierre-Auguste Renoir, you may want to look at Renoir by Gilles Néret and Renoir: His Life & Works in 500 Images by Susie Hodge.