Children Playing Ball (Enfants jouant a la balle)

Auguste Renoir

National Gallery of Art

Four women shown from the waist up to about mid-thigh, engaged in an outdoor activity. Two women in the front are bending over, possibly picking something from the ground, while the two behind them are in mid-movement. The woman on the left has her hair tied back and wears a patterned garment, while the woman beside her has auburn hair in a loose bun and wears a rich red dress with puffed sleeves. Behind them, a woman lifting a bundle on her shoulder wears a dress with wide sleeves and long, dark hair cascading, and another woman holding a similar bundle is in motion. The women's clothing is voluminous and indicative of a historical or pastoral style. The setting is an open field with patches of grass, under a soft blue and white sky, creating a peaceful outdoor scene.