Renoir's 'Two Sisters' at Art Institute of Chicago: A Masterpiece of Impressionism

The Art Institute of Chicago proudly houses Pierre-Auguste Renoir's renowned artwork 'Two Sisters (On the Terrace),' created in 1881. This piece is recognized by two names: 'Two Sisters' (Les Deux Sœurs), attributed to Renoir, and 'On the Terrace' (Sur la Terrasse), a title given by its initial owner, Paul Durand-Ruel. Depicting two young women on a terrace, the older sister is dressed in a blue flannel boater's outfit. Renoir painted this scene at the Maison Fournaise, a restaurant in Chatou, a western suburb of Paris, during the spring of 1881. By April 19, 1881, while dining with James McNeill Whistler, Renoir decided to delay a trip to London due to pleasant weather and his models. The elder sister is Jeanne Darlot (1863–1914), an 18-year-old aspiring actress, while the younger model's identity remains unknown. The painting debuted at the 7th Impressionist exhibition in spring 1882 and was owned by Charles Ephrussi by 1883, who appears in Edmund de Waal's 'The Hare with Amber Eyes.' In 1892, it returned to the Durand-Ruel family and is currently displayed at the Art Institute of Chicago.