And it’s downhill from here: La Grenouillère, 1868, National Museum, Stockholm. Via Wikipedia.
So one reads in the Boston Globe (hat tip to Althouse for the link) that there’s an anti-Renoir movement:
The rally, which mostly bewildered passersby, was organized by Max Geller, creator of the Instagram account Renoir Sucks at Painting, who wants the MFA to take its Renoirs off the walls and replace them with something better. Holding homemade signs reading “God Hates Renoir” and “Treacle Harms Society,” the protesters ate cheese pizza purchased by Geller, and chanted: “Put some fingers on those hands! Give us work by Paul Gauguin!” and “Other art is worth your while! Renoir paints a steaming pile!”
See, Renoir haters picket outside Museum of Fine Arts @ Boston Globe.
I’m of a family with admiration for French culture and history, yet even so, never once growing up do I remember anyone mentioning Renoir favorably, or much at all….unmentioned, truly, I’d say.
For those who doubt that America has a fine future before her – and they are wrong in their doubts – let this small protest be evidence of young Americans’ good sense, developed aesthetic, and free spirit.
Our best days are ahead of us.