Misia Sert

Misia Sert — born Maria Zofia Olga Zenajda Godebska — was one of the most significant cultural patrons of the Belle Époque and early twentieth century, a close friend of Diaghilev, Stravinsky, and Toulouse-Lautrec, who worshipped her. Renoir painted her around 1904, when she was married to the newspaper magnate Alfred Edwards. Her connection to the avant-garde was extensive, and being painted by Renoir placed her firmly within the Impressionist social world. Renoir's portrait registers both her dark, striking looks and the atmosphere of ease and intelligence that made her a magnet for Paris's artistic community.

Renoir places Misia in a three-quarter pose against a warm, loosely brushed background. Her dark hair and dress contrast with the pale warmth of her skin, which Renoir renders with his characteristic blend of rose and cream. The face is the most carefully resolved area, with soft but precise modelling around the eyes and mouth that conveys her alert, engaged expression.