The lives of Renoir's subjects in the iconic 'Pink and Blue' painting took a tragic turn, revealing a hidden history of art, war, and betrayal. The painting, depicting two young girls, Elisabeth and Alice, holding hands and dressed in frilly white, is a beloved masterpiece. However, the story behind these adorable subjects is far more complex and somber than one might expect.
In her book, 'The Renoir Girls: A Hidden History of Art, War & Betrayal', Catherine Ostler delves into the lives of the Cahen d'Anvers sisters, who were the subjects of Renoir's painting. The girls' mother, Louise, was a society beauty and a patron of the arts, hosting a salon for artists and writers. She had an affair with Charles Ephrussi, an art patron and inspiration for Charles Swann in Marcel Proust's 'In Search of Lost Time'.
The painting itself is a fascinating piece of art history. Renoir first visited the Cahen d'Anvers townhouse in 1880 to paint the older sister, Irene. The 'Little Irene' painting showcases the girl's beauty and elegance against a vibrant green background. The next year, Renoir painted the two younger sisters, Elisabeth and Alice, who were just 6 and 4 years old at the time.
However, the painting's creation was not without controversy. The girls' father, Louis Cahen d'Anvers, was initially slow to pay Renoir, possibly due to his dissatisfaction with the image of Alice. There are rumors that Louis suspected Alice was not his daughter, but rather Ephrussi's. This mystery adds a layer of intrigue to the story.
The book explores the sisters' lives in the context of the Belle Époque era, a time of scientific and technological progress and artistic flourishing. Paris society was glittering and sophisticated, but it was also a time of political instability, xenophobia, and antisemitism. The Dreyfus affair, a scandal involving a Jewish French army captain, further fueled these tensions.
Elisabeth Cahen d'Anvers, the elder sister, became a Catholic in 1895, possibly influenced by her mother's affair with Ephrussi and her own experiences with nuns after a riding accident. She married a Catholic aristocrat, Comte Jean de Forceville, and had a turbulent personal life, divorcing two husbands and losing another love in World War I.
Alice, on the other hand, married Charles Townshend, a British Army officer, and lived mostly in England. During World War II, she and her family faced immense hardship. Alice and her children were forced to flee France as the Germans advanced, and she endured a harrowing journey to Britain, leaving her daughter Audrey behind to work for the Resistance.
The most tragic fate befell Elisabeth. After the German occupation, she retreated from Paris and was cared for by a Gentile couple in a village. However, the village mayor, influenced by antisemitism, informed the Gestapo of her whereabouts. Elisabeth, aged 69 and infirm, was arrested and sent to Drancy, a Jewish collection point outside Paris. She was transported to her death in Auschwitz in 1944.
The painting 'Pink and Blue' itself has a fascinating journey. It was included in a French art tour of the Americas in 1939 and eventually sold to a Brazilian plutocrat. Today, it hangs in the São Paulo Museum of Art, serving as a poignant reminder of the tragic fates of the Cahen d'Anvers sisters.
Ostler's book provides a captivating and deeply personal exploration of this hidden history, shedding light on the lives of these young girls and the impact of their story on art, war, and society.
