For those who see in the 1863 Manet painting, from which the title [of Le Déjeuner sur l'Herbe] is derived, the essence of natural peace, it may seem sacrilegious to have the two so closely associated, but it seems to me that this is a limited view of Manet. (pp. 40-1)

Renoir has some basic beliefs about life which he applies in his film work, of course, but first and foremost he avows "I am not consistent." And then, "Man changes with the outside world" and "Art should be practiced in connection with human reality." Also that "to be a great artist you must first of all be a child" and that nature becomes that which the artist sees…. Yes, this is a child's film—the film of a true artist, and the film of a man.

Le Déjeuner sur l'Herbe involves figures symbolizing (perhaps!) various aspects...