Pierre-Auguste Renoir Figurative Paintings

Pierre-Auguste Renoir 1841-1919 French Portrait de Coco et Fleurs Signed “Renoir” (lower right) Oil on canvas A delightful and sentimental portrait of childhood innocence, Portrait de Coco et Fleurs by Pierre-Auguste Renoir is distinguished as one of the Impressionist master’s most personal works. Known for his luxuriant still lifes and captivating figurative paintings, Renoir’s portraits of children are some of the famed artist’s most sought-after works. Portraits of the artist’s own children are his most intimate triumphs of the medium. Scholars note a shift in Renoir’s depictions of children after the birth of his own. Rather than rendering children as buttoned-up accessories of adults in formal portraits, he chose to highlight their expressive and curious individuality. This portrait depicts Renoir’s son Claude at age five, sitting in profile and deeply engrossed in a drawing. Just above the painterly portrait, Renoir renders another of his favorite subjects, a profusion of flowers, with rich color and detail. The bouquet of anemones and ranunculus coupled with the child’s pink blouse and flaxen blonde tresses creates an overwhelming sense of sweetness and sentimentality. The family lovingly nicknamed their youngest son Cloclo, which later became Coco. Soon, Coco became Renoir's favorite model, surpassing his elder brother Jean. Renoir was keen to paint portraits of his children prior to their first haircut as he felt long unshorn hair captured their childhood innocence. When Coco was born, Jean’s hair was cut for the first time and his father rarely painted him again. Of the shift, Jean Renoir recalled, "It was while we were living in the rue Caulaincourt that my father had me pose for him most often. A few years later my brother Claude, who was seven years younger than I, was to take my place in the studio. Coco certainly proved one of the most prolific inspirations my father ever had." Renoir held somewhat progressive ideas about childhood for his time. He believed children should be able to make their first contact with the world around them without adult or external interference. He insisted that children should have just the right kinds of colors and objects around them and promoted a more organic and natural environment for his children. This approach might shed light on Renoir’s unique choice to portray his children in a feminine-like way. Often, Renoir’s portraits of his sons are mistaken for girls as Renoir usually dressed them in girls’ clothing...