Claude Renoir ("Coco")

Art Historical Context

This charming bronze sculpture, *Claude Renoir ("oco")*, created around 1908 by Impressionist master Pierre-Auguste Renoir in collaboration with sculptor Richard Gu, captures the youthful innocence of Renoir's youngest son, Claude, affectionately nicknamed "Coco." just over 26 cm in height, this intimate bust exemplifies Renoir's late-career foray into three-dimensional art, where his painterly sensitivity to light, form, and human warmth translated beautifully into sculpture. Renoir, renowned for his vibrant canvases celebrating everyday beauty, turned to sculpture in his final years as arthritis limited his painting. Partnering with the skilled young Guino, who acted as his hands, Renoir modeled numerous figures, infusing them with the soft, rounded volumes and joyful vitality of his Impressionist style. Cast in bronze, this work's smooth, luminous surface evokes the tactile richness of Renoir's brushstrokes, highlighting the innovative blend of painting and sculpture during the early 20th century. A gift to the National Gallery of Art from Margaret Seligman Lewisohn in memory of her husband, Sam A. Lewisohn, *Claude Renoir ("Coco")* offers visitors a personal glimpse into the artist's family life and enduring legacy, bridging Impressionism's golden age with modern sculptural expression.