Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Pierre-Auguste Renoir was a renowned French painter whose luminous works remain among the most beloved and frequently reproduced images in art history. Born in Limoges on February 25, 1841, he once declared, “Why shouldn’t art be pretty? There are enough unpleasant things in the world.” His paintings deliver exactly that—a vision of sparkling color and light that transports viewers to a forgotten world of beauty.
At 13, Renoir apprenticed in a Paris porcelain painter’s workshop, where he developed his distinctive brush technique and mastery of color. He later studied at the École des Beaux-Arts and formed lasting friendships with Cezanne, Pissarro, Sisley, and Monet. In 1874, Renoir helped found The Society of Painters, Engravers and Sculptors, witnessing the birth of Impressionism firsthand.
Renoir didn’t begin printmaking until age 50, starting with soft-ground etchings after his painting The Rustic Ball. In 1892, he created his first lithograph, a portrait of his son Pierre. Working with publisher Ambroise Vollard, who also championed Cezanne’s prints, Renoir produced notable lithographs including The Pinned Hat and Twelve Lithographs (The Vollard Suite), plus portraits of Cezanne, Wagner, and Rodin. Severe rheumatism eventually forced him to tie brushes to his hands, yet he continued painting until his death at Cagnes-sur-Mer on December 17, 1919. Renoir is represented by Park West Gallery.