The Daughters of Durand-Ruel

Dozens of colors come together to evoke the dazzling effect of sunlight on these girls’ white dresses. Despite the quick brushstrokes, Pierre-Auguste Renoir did not sacrifice details for effect. He carefully rendered the laces of the girls’ boots, the younger sitter’s black ribbon necklace, and even the flower on the brim of the straw bonnet. An Impressionist masterpiece, the double portrait depicts the daughters of Paul Durand-Ruel—a Parisian art dealer who championed the work of artists like Renoir.

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