The lives of Renoir's subjects in the iconic painting 'Pink and Blue' took a tragic turn, as revealed in Catherine Ostler's captivating book, 'The Renoir Girls: A Hidden History of Art, War & Betrayal'. This article delves into the story of the two young girls, Elisabeth and Alice, and their journey from innocence to adversity. Ostler's research uncovers a web of mysteries and tragedies that unfolded in the Belle Époque era, shedding light on the darker side of this golden age of art and society.
The painting itself, a masterpiece of Impressionism, captures the essence of childhood innocence with its depiction of Elisabeth and Alice, dressed in frilly white and holding hands. However, the reality of their lives was far from idyllic. Ostler's investigation reveals that the girls were the youngest daughters of Louis and Louise Cahen d'Anvers, a wealthy Jewish family in Paris. Their mother, Louise, was a society beauty and a patron of the arts, known for her salon and affair with Charles Ephrussi, an art patron and inspiration for Charles Swann in Marcel Proust's 'In Search of Lost Time'.
The girls' portrait by Renoir was commissioned by their mother, and it sparked a series of events that would shape their lives. The painting, 'Pink and Blue', was initially met with approval, but the girls' father, Louis, had reservations. Ostler speculates that Louis may have suspected Alice of not being his biological daughter, as he was slow to pay Renoir. This mystery sets the stage for the tragic twists that follow.
The Belle Époque era was a time of scientific and technological progress, but it was also marked by political instability and rising xenophobia. The Dreyfus affair, a scandal involving a Jewish army captain, Alfred Dreyfus, divided France into two camps, exacerbating antisemitism. This backdrop of racial tension and suspicion sets the tone for the girls' lives, which take a turn for the worse as they become entangled in the political and social turmoil of the time.
Ostler's narrative reveals the complex lives of Elisabeth and Alice. Elisabeth, after a riding accident, converted to Catholicism and married Comte Jean de Forceville, a Catholic aristocrat. Alice, on the other hand, married Charles Townshend, a British Army officer, and lived mostly in England. However, the outbreak of World War II brought tragedy to both sisters.
During the German occupation of France, Alice, then 64, found herself in a dire situation. She, her grandson, and granddaughter, along with her lady's maid, were forced to cower in a ditch as the Luftwaffe flew overhead. They managed to escape to Bordeaux and board a freighter bound for Britain. Meanwhile, Elisabeth, suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, was arrested by the Gestapo and sent to Drancy, a Jewish collection point outside Paris. She was eventually transported to her death in Auschwitz.
The painting 'Pink and Blue' itself had a fascinating journey. It was included in a French art tour of the Americas in 1939 and later sold to a Brazilian plutocrat. Today, it hangs in the São Paulo Museum of Art, serving as a poignant reminder of the fragility of the Belle Époque era and the tragic fate that befell the subjects of Renoir's masterpiece.
Ostler's book provides a comprehensive and deeply personal account of the girls' lives, shedding light on the hidden history of art, war, and betrayal. It highlights the impact of societal and political forces on individual lives, and the devastating consequences that can arise from a time of beauty and sophistication. The story of Elisabeth and Alice is a powerful reminder of the fragility of innocence and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
