Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Pierre-Auguste Renoir was born in France in 1841. As a boy, he painted flowers on plates in a china factory. He grew up to be a great painter. He was part of a group called the Impressionists. He loved to paint happy people and sunny scenes.

Impressionist Art

Renoir and his friends painted a new way. They used short, soft brush strokes and bright colors. They tried to show light and movement. Renoir painted parties, dances, and people having fun. His pictures feel warm and cheerful.

A photograph of the French painter Auguste Renoir.
A photograph of the French painter Auguste Renoir. (UnknownUnknown Musée d'Orsay, Dist. RMN-Grand Palais / Patrice Schmidt / Wikimedia Commons)

A Lifelong Painter

Renoir painted many famous pictures, like 'Luncheon of the Boating Party.' When he was older, his hands hurt from arthritis. He still painted every day by tying brushes to his hands. He never stopped making art. He painted until the last day of his life in 1919.

Fun Facts

  • He painted over 4,000 works of art in his life.
  • His son Jean Renoir became a famous movie director.
  • He loved to paint children and flowers.

Did You Know?

Even when his hands hurt too much to hold a brush, Renoir had brushes tied to his fingers so he could keep painting.