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Lot Essay
One of Renoir's favorite subjects throughout his career was the depiction of young girls, often wearing elaborate hats which were highly fashionable at the time. John House noted, "Renoir had (as Suzanne Valadon remembered) a particular penchant for woman's hats and often had them especially made for his models" (J. House, "Renoir's Worlds", Pierre-Auguste Renoir, exh. cat., Hayward Gallery, London, 1985, p. 16).
During the 1890s, Renoir's social life was divided into two distinct parts, which were reflected in his work. He built up a clientele for portrait commissions, executing some formal society portraits; by contrast, he also painted portraits of anonymous models, and,through which he sought only to render the charm and youthful appeal of his sitters. Colin Bailey writes "When [Renoir] paints a portrait, he asks his model to behave normally, to sit as she usually sits, to dress as she usually dresses, so that nothing smacks of constraint or artificial preparation" (C. Bailey, Renior's Portraits, London, 1987, p. 20).
During the 1890s, Renoir's social life was divided into two distinct parts, which were reflected in his work. He built up a clientele for portrait commissions, executing some formal society portraits; by contrast, he also painted portraits of anonymous models, and,through which he sought only to render the charm and youthful appeal of his sitters. Colin Bailey writes "When [Renoir] paints a portrait, he asks his model to behave normally, to sit as she usually sits, to dress as she usually dresses, so that nothing smacks of constraint or artificial preparation" (C. Bailey, Renior's Portraits, London, 1987, p. 20).