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Auguste Renoir, The Swing, 1876. 92x73cm (36x29 inches). Musée d'Orsay, Paris. |
Elise was standing on the swing now, statuesque, presiding. Strands of her light brown hair had blown loose from her chignon and trailed down her throat. The other women looked lovely, too, with their skirts spread out around their picnic on the grass. The sun coming through the leafy branches made pale yellow patches on their dresses. My God, if he'd stayed inside today, if his eyes were still stuck shut... He didn't want to think about it. Was a man to resign life or die bitter because he only had two days of every seven to call his own?