Coco c. 1905

Curator: Pierre-Auguste Renoir painted this portrait, "Coco," around 1905, during a period when he was deeply fascinated with capturing the innocence and charm of childhood. Editor: What strikes me immediately is the painting's soft, almost ethereal quality. It feels more like a fleeting impression than a meticulously rendered likeness. Curator: Precisely. Renoir, deeply rooted in the Impressionist movement, prioritizes light and color over strict representational accuracy. You can see the brushstrokes are quite visible, adding to that sense of immediacy. Editor: It’s interesting how he uses broad strokes of blue for the child's dress, almost like she's emerging from the canvas. I wonder about the context, about childhood during this period, and how it’s depicted in art. Was there a sentimentality that dictated these portraits? Curator: In many ways, yes. Child portraits were often commissioned by bourgeois families to signal status, and to portray childhood as a time of innocence and play, separate from the harsher realities of working-class life. However, Renoir had a genuine affection for children and a family of his own. It is said that this portrait depicts his son, Claude Renoir. Editor: That adds another layer. Knowing it's his child reframes it somewhat, perhaps lessening the detached, performative aspect of commissioned portraits and lending more authenticity to the sentiment. There's a sense of tenderness that seeps through. Curator: Definitely. It highlights Renoir's unique talent. He was commercially successful, yes, but there's often a genuine emotional core to his work, softened by the gaze of a doting father in the subject's sweet and delicate appearance. Editor: Considering the historical context of women and portraiture, children had, or still have very little say in the narrative created of and around them, I find myself reflecting on those power dynamics even in this ostensibly innocent portrait. It leads me to consider children's visibility within these important art institutions. Curator: Absolutely, a pertinent question to always ask. As we draw to a close, "Coco" serves as a reminder of Renoir's unique way of approaching even commissioned work, blending it seamlessly into his personal interests. Editor: And a beautiful example of how we can view canonical works through a new and wider lens.