Renoir: A Sensuous Vision (Thames & Hudson, £6.95 in UK)

These New Horizon paperbacks from Thames & Hudson are useful introductions to their subjects, as well as being attractively laid out and presented. They are impressionistic (no pun) in their approach, using letters, historical commentary, sayings by the artist himself and the reactions of friends and contemporaries as well as colour reproductions, old photographs and period documents. Renoir is not a favourite of mine, but he is greatly loved by millions and this non-specialist portrait is well judged in tone and style. The print, however, is in some sections rather too small for comfort.