Renoir's world is a chocolate box, full of plump women, sweet children and pastel whirls. But even if you prefer paintings with more bite, do not dismiss Bridgestone's new Renoir exhibition. This interesting selection reveals a talent of more depth and restlessness than you may have seen before.
Many paintings are in Japan for the first time, including a surprising number from private collections. These 67 works cover the most important years of the artist's life, 1870-1890, and illustrate Renoir's transition from outsider to Old Master.
In itself, that gives us pause for thought. As one of the avant-garde Impressionists, surely Renoir would have despised the label "Old Master?" Well, yes and no.