L'œuvre en bref

Painted in 1887, this portrait depicts Julie Manet, then eight years old, daughter of the painter Eugène Manet and Berthe Morisot, and niece of Édouard Manet. Auguste Renoir maintained close bonds of friendship with the Manet-Morisot family, and this painting bears witness to that affectionate closeness. At this time, Renoir was going through what he himself called his "Ingresque period" or "harsh manner," during which he momentarily turned away from Impressionism to return to more precise drawing and a more disciplined execution, inspired by classical masters such as Ingres and Raphael.

The young girl is seated in three-quarter view, tenderly holding a tabby cat with half-closed eyes against her, in a pose imbued with gentleness and tranquility. Her white dress, embroidered with ivory motifs and rendered in supple brushstrokes, occupies a large part of the canvas and softens the entire composition. In the background, pink wallpaper adorned with small floral medallions converses with the grey-green tones of the neighboring wall, creating an intimate and refined setting. Renoir uses a light, pearly palette here, dominated by creamy whites, tender pinks, and warm browns, which highlight the child's delicate complexion and pensive gaze. The brushwork, more restrained than usual, nonetheless reveals the artist's signature pictorial sensuality, particularly in the rendering of the cat's fur and the carefully arranged chestnut hair.

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