Artwork
Pink and Blue

Pink and Blue is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Auguste Renoir. It dates from 1891 and is held in the collection of the São Paulo Museum of Art.
About this work
Pink and Blue is an oil painting by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, made in 1881. The work shows two sisters, Alice and Elisabeth Cahen d’Anvers, daughters of Louise and Louis Raphaël Cahen d’Anvers.
It was created in Paris and has been part of the São Paulo Museum of Art collection since 1952. The museum calls it one of its most popular pieces. The painting is executed in oil,
Overview
Pink and Blue is an 1881 oil painting by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, depicting sisters Alice and Elisabeth Cahen d’Anvers. It has been part of the São Paulo Museum of Art's collection since 1952 and remains one of its most popular works.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays Alice and Elisabeth Cahen d’Anvers, daughters of Louise and Louis Raphaël Cahen d’Anvers, a Jewish banking family in Paris. The work captures the siblings in a serene, intimate moment, reflecting Renoir’s ability to convey warmth and personality in his portraits.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil paint, Pink and Blue exemplifies Renoir’s Impressionist technique, characterized by soft, feathery brushstrokes and a pastel-dominated color palette that emphasizes the subjects’ youth and innocence.
History & Provenance
Created in Paris in 1881, the painting entered the São Paulo Museum of Art’s collection in 1952, where it has been conserved and showcased as a highlight of the museum’s holdings.
Artist & collection
Artist
Pierre-Auguste Renoir was born on 25 February 1841 in Limoges, the son of a tailor and a seamstress.


















