Pierre-Auguste Renoir, “Laughing Young Woman”

One of Max Silberberg’s favorite painters was Pierre-Auguste Renoir, as the collector possessed five of his canvases and at least one drawing by the artist. The earliest dated work that the collector acquired came from the Breslau collection of Leo Lewin. This small-sized painting, titled “Laughing Young Girl,” depicts the actress Jeanne Samary and was once in her possession.

Jeanne Samary, a frequent presence on the stages of the Comédie-Française, was one of Renoir’s favorite models. Between 1877 and 1881, the painter captured her image on canvas at least twelve times, and her likeness can be admired in the famous painting “Luncheon of the Boating Party.”

Renoir skillfully created an impression of naturalness and intimacy on canvas. He consciously eschewed accessories that characterized the model and elaborate decorations, opting for a neutral background. Renoir advised models to wear everyday clothes that allowed them to feel at ease and to assume a comfortable position during posing. Looking at the likeness of Jeanne Samary – dressed in a simple gown, with an unassuming hairstyle and half-opened mouth, gazing directly at the viewer – it seems that even this professional actress felt very at ease in the artist’s studio and did not attempt to adopt any particular role.

In 1932, the painting was presented at an auction of Silberberg’s collection at the Galerie Georges Petit in Paris. It then passed into the possession of Georges Renand in Paris before making its way to New York, belonging to the collections of Moritz Gutmann, M. Knoedler & Co. Inc., and Georges Bigar. In 1998, the painting was featured in an auction at the Christie’s gallery in New York, and the current whereabouts of the artwork are unknown.

Painting Information:

oil on canvas, 29.9 x 22 cm, current storage location unknown.

Literature: Collections de Messieurs S… et S…, Tableau Modernes, Paris, 9 Juin 1932, Galerie Georges Petit, Paris 1932, nr 28.