Caroline Rémy c. 1885

Pierre-Auguste Renoir captured Caroline Rémy, a prominent figure in the late 19th century Parisian intellectual circles. Rémy, known by her pseudonym Séverine, was not just a model, but a journalist and a feminist, who brought a voice to the oppressed through her work. Renoir, celebrated for his portraits of women, here paints Séverine with a soft, almost dreamlike quality. Yet, there’s a certain strength in her gaze that defies the conventional, passive representation of women at the time. The flowers she wears aren’t merely decorative; they symbolize the blooming of feminist ideals and the fight for women’s rights. "I have never painted anything but impressions," Renoir once said. What impression did Séverine leave on him, and what impression does her image leave on us? It invites us to consider the dynamic interplay between artist, muse, and the socio-political landscape that frames their encounter. The artwork becomes a point of reflection on the evolving roles of women and their active participation in shaping history.