Two Sisters

Another well-known portrait by Pierre-Auguste Renoir is Two Sisters. It shows an older girl relaxing on a patio with her younger sister. The ornate details, such as the flower crown on the small girl, the basket of flowers, and the foliage on the terrace, contrast with the subject's simplicity. Even though the background is blurred, the spectator can see the nuances of the scenery behind the subjects.

Maison Fournaise (House of Fournaise) is a restaurant in Chatou, west of Paris, set on an island in the Seine. It is the setting for not just this painting but also another classic by Renoir, Luncheon of the Boating Party. Jeanne Darlot, the painting's elder sister, went on to become an actress. The identity of the younger sister is unclear, despite the fact that she is not linked to Jeanne. Renoir gave the picture the title Two Sisters, whereas its first owner, Paul Durand-Ruel, gave it the title On the Terrace.

Annie Swan Coburn, an American art collector, paid $100,000 for the painting in 1925. It was bequeathed to the Art Institute of Chicago in 1932. It is still one of the most popular paintings in the museum today.

Year: 1881
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 100.5 cm × 81 cm (39.6 in × 31.9 in)
Location: Art Institute of Chicago