The Daughters of Paul Durand Ruel (Marie Theresa and Jeanne) 1882

Pierre-Auguste Renoir painted these daughters of Paul Durand Ruel, Marie Theresa and Jeanne, using oil on canvas. Note the flowers, both those held in Marie Theresa’s lap and in the natural environment surrounding the girls. Flowers have long been potent symbols. We see this motif in classical mythology, for instance, the goddess Flora represents spring and fertility. Over time, in Renaissance paintings, flowers were used to convey complex meanings, from love and purity to mortality. The language of flowers, deeply rooted in cultural memory, resurfaces here in Renoir’s work. These blossoms evoke an aura of innocence and transient beauty, aligning with the Impressionist’s focus on capturing fleeting moments. Consider how, on a subconscious level, this connects us to themes of youth, vitality, and the passage of time. Such artistic choices do not occur in isolation, but draw upon a collective cultural memory, linking the viewer to deeper, more universal human experiences.