Renoir: Father and Son

Beloved impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir left a vibrant legacy that influenced the life and films of his son, the acclaimed director Jean Renoir.

The impressionist paintings of Pierre- Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) are characterized by portraits and lively episodes from daily life. These joyful scenes influenced the life and work of his son, filmmaker Jean Renoir (1894- 1979), who Orson Welles described as “the greatest of all directors.”

This catalogue―and the traveling exhibition it accompanies―demonstrates how Pierre- Auguste Renoir’s artistic practice and creative universe influenced Jean’s art, and how Jean’s films shed new light on his father’s paintings. Focusing on core themes in both artists’ works, such as their vision and recreation of Paris, this volume examines Jean’s path to becoming a prominent international filmmaker, bringing together paintings, drawings, films, costumes, and photos―as well as the ceramics he made before he turned to cinema. Contributions from the Barnes Foundation― with its collection of 181 works by Pierre- Auguste Renoir along with pottery by Jean Renoir ―the Musée de l’Orangerie and the Cinématheque Française provide in-depth insight into this complex, fruitful relationship between painting and cinema.