Focus on this artwork and discuss the X-Ray analysis.
Analysis has been done on the painting in recent years in an effort to understand how Renoir created this work and where he might have changed his mind along the way. This analysis has shown that the original depiction of the woman in the painting was much different from what Renoir finally settled upon. Notably, she wore a different hat from the one in the final painting and looked much more similar to the woman in the Dance in the Country painting, said to have been modeled by Aline Charigot, Renoir's wife. In a letter Renoir wrote to the Bernheim brothers, he also said that "I had originally painted my dancer with a white jacket. I changed my mind and painted it blue. I should have waited a month before making this change." The analysis of these changes made by Renoir would not be possible without technological advancements that allow art historians to better understand the context in which artists worked. It is interesting to note the apparent change in model, and Renoir's regret at changing the color of the jacket provide further evidence for the fact that Renoir did not spend a significant amount of time planning for this work.
Aline Charigot Dance in the Country