After several of his paintings were rejected by the Salon in the early 1870s, Renoir decided to join Monet in establishing an independent artist's society. The Impressionists, as they were called, sought to capture modern life and Renoir's works from this period focused on everyday people, streets, and surroundings. His most iconic painting from this period, 'Dance at the Moulin de la Galette', explores dappled light as it flutters over young Montmartre revelers flirting, drinking, and dancing.