I really admire this piece for a few different reasons, and it also is very significant at the moment to my drawing I class, because we are working on human portraiture and figure drawing. The angle of the subject is very interesting because it captures an everyday aspect of life for many - the action presented by the subject is subtle, but it is significant to every day life and many viewers can relate to this. Growing up, younger girls are taught to braid their hair, and it is one of the first things that many young girls learn early on in their childhood. To me, this piece seems to convey the idea of childhood vs. womanhood and that clash in between the transitional stage. For example, the face looks very young, while the body is more filled, and the hands of the woman appear to be older and a bit aged (but not TOO aged). The clothing that the woman is wearing is also very revealing, which indicates maturity. The fact that the woman/girl is braiding her hair indicates childhood. The leaves in the background are representational of growth and life. The orange hue (presented in the background) also can symbolize endurance, which is significant because this helps convey the idea of girls transitioning into women and enduring that change.
Image derived from: Renoir, Pierre Auguste. The Braid (Suzanne Valadon). 1884-1886. Painting. Pierre Auguste Renoir: The Complete WorksWeb. 24 Oct 2013. <http://www.pierre-auguste-renoir.org/The-Braid-(Suzanne-Valadon).html>.
Image derived from: Renoir, Pierre Auguste. The Braid (Suzanne Valadon). 1884-1886. Painting. Pierre Auguste Renoir: The Complete WorksWeb. 24 Oct 2013. <http://www.pierre-auguste-renoir.org/The-Braid-(Suzanne-Valadon).html>.