Often misunderstood, Pierre-Auguste Renoirremains one of history’s most-loved painters—undoubtedly because his works exude such warmth, tenderness, and good cheer. Gathering brilliant reproductionsand sketches, as well as photosand a complete chronologyillustrating his life and work, this is the essential work of referenceon Renoir.Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s (1841–1919) timelessly charming paintings still reflect our ideals of happiness, love, and beauty. Derived from our large-format volume, the most comprehensive retrospective of his work published to date, this compact edition examines the personal history and motivation behind the legend. Though he began by painting landscapes in the Impressionist style, Renoir found his true affinity in portraits, after which he abandoned the Impressionists altogether. Though often misunderstood, Renoir remains one of history’s most well-loved painters—undoubtedly because his works exude such warmth, tenderness, and good spirit.In an incisive text tracing the artist’s career and stylistic evolution, Gilles Néret shows how Renoirreinvented the painted female form, with his everyday goddesses and their plump forms, rounded hips and breasts. Renoir’s later phase, marked by his return to the simple pleasure of the female nude in his baigneusesseries, was his most innovative and stylistically influential, and would inspire such masters as Matisse and Picasso.With acomplete chronology,bibliography, photos, sketches, and brilliant reproductions, this is theessential work of reference on this enduring master artist.The author Gilles Néret(1933–2005) was an art historian, journalist, writer, and museum correspondent. He organized several art retrospectives in Japan and founded the SEIBU Museum and the Wildenstein Gallery in Tokyo. He directed art reviews such as L'Œiland Connaissance des Artsand received the Élie Faure Prize in 1981 for his publications. His TASCHEN titles include Salvador Dalí: The Paintings, Matisse,and Erotica Universalis.