Pierre-Auguste Renoir is celebrated for his radiant depictions of people, especially women and girls, set against vibrant backgrounds of everyday life. Today, we present a portrait of an unknown girl wearing a red ruff. Her skin appears smooth and luminescent, and the rosy cheeks we can observe today are a hallmark of Renoir’s style. Typically for Impressionist painting, the sitter is bathed in warm, natural light, highlighting their youthful vibrancy.Around the 1890s, Renoir began to distance himself from the Impressionist techniques for which he was famous. He moved towards a more structured, classical approach in his work, which some have referred to as his “Ingres period,” referencing the Neoclassical artist Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres. This phase is often attributed to Renoir’s trip to Italy in 1881, where he was deeply affected by Renaissance art. In this portrait, we see his fascination with the Renaissance portrait, but also, his love for Rococo paintings.