This sweet painting of a woman holding a cat is by the French impressionist Auguste Renoir.
Renoir began painting at a very young age, painting first on porcelain to supplement his family’s income. Later, he would sit for many hours in the Louvre, teaching himself how to paint by copying the works of the ancient masters.
What makes Renoir stand out amongst his fellow impressionists is that he combines both traditional painting with more modernist themes and techniques. For example in the picture above, we have a fairly traditional romantic portrait. But it’s painted in an impressionistic style.
Renoir painted at least one other painting featuring a cat, titled “Young Boy with a Cat”. The latter image is less romantic and more provocative. Below you can see a detail from the painting.
In this sense Renoir arguably influenced the later work of British Artist Lucian Freud, who would often paint portraits, including nudes, of pet owners with their pets. See below for an example:
Whilst these images may appear provocative, my personal interpretation is that they continue what Renoir began: they combine traditional and contemporary techniques, and create an almost ironic reworking of the contradictory incentives for traditional portraiture.
Which is to say, they’re more than just flattering images of their subjects. They tell us something about the idea of portraiture itself. This makes them modern, and arguably creates a bridge between the old and the new. And Renoir’s loving image of a Woman with a Cat, allows us to see how modernism her from within the tradition of classical portraiture.
“Woman with a Cat”, by Auguste Renoir can be seen at the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C.
Thank you for reading my newsletter! My goal is to make learning about fine art more accessible. If you’d like to help me keep writing these posts please consider becoming a paying subscriber for just $5. Plus, you’ll be able to access a weekly podcast discussion. Thank you for your support!