ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Catherine Breillat: A New History of the Eye

publication · 2026-04-23

Catherine Breillat, author of six novels and director of seven films, began her filmmaking career in 1976 with "Une vraie jeune fille." She is an heir to Renoir and a contemporary of Pialat and Eustache, sharing with the latter two a certain naturalism, though the term is reductive for a body of work that veers toward moralistic fable and confession. Her latest film, "Romance," continues her project of representing love in its most secret aspect—that of sex.

Key facts

  • Catherine Breillat is the author of six novels and director of seven films.
  • She began her filmmaking career in 1976 with 'Une vraie jeune fille.'
  • She is an heir to Renoir and a contemporary of Pialat and Eustache.
  • Her work shares a certain naturalism with Pialat and Eustache.
  • Her oeuvre veers toward moralistic fable and confession.
  • Her latest film is 'Romance.'
  • 'Romance' continues her project of representing love's most secret aspect—sex.

Entities

Artists

  • Catherine Breillat
  • Jean Renoir
  • Maurice Pialat
  • Jean Eustache

Sources