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Table of Contents
About The Book
“Reality is always magical.” —Jean Renoir, 1957
Art is a family matter for the Renoirs. The path is carved by Pierre-Auguste, the painter who along with Monet, Cézanne, Degas was at the origin of the impressionist movement and continues with Jean, the poetic avant-garde filmmaker. Indisputably one of the masters of French painting of the 19th century, Pierre-Auguste fathered one of the greatest cineastes of the twentieth century in Jean Renoir. From the father’s paintings to the son’s films, the artist affiliation reveals a similar pursuit, and a single source of inspiration: an ode to freedom finding its origins in a profound humanity and love of reality.
Pierre-Auguste and Jean Renoir, father and son, each marked the history of art—through painting for Pierre-Auguste and film for Jean, with the common thread of a desire to transcribe reality. This graphic novel tells the story of the intertwined lives of these two creators who always sought to draw their inspiration from the “spectacle of life”. But behind their art, there is also the story of the filiation between an old man who is slowly losing his strength and a young man seeking to make his own mark.
In fact, it is not until after his father’s death that Jean began his career as a filmmaker and contributed some of the greatest films to the history of the movies: The Grand Illusion, The River, and The Rules of the Game. In 1975 he received an Academy Award for lifetime achievement for his body of his work.
About The Illustrator
Jak Lemonnier graduated from the École des Beaux Arts in Le Havre, France. After a few stints in publishing, he has written for several anthologies and animated a number of books and television series.
Product Details
- Publisher: Pegasus Books (June 24, 2021)
- Length: 124 pages
- ISBN13: 9781643131962
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Raves and Reviews
"In judiciously written and compelling text and vibrant images suited to each man's conflictful world, Simon and Lemonnier sensitively and dynamically capture the risks and triumphs of each daring artist and the power of their innovative, life-affirming, indelible creations."
– Booklist
"Renoir: Father and Son is a lushly illustrated double biography that tells the story of the famous French painter and his famous film-director son. It’s a gorgeous book to look at. It transported me to another place and time with its soft, dreamy hues."
– The London Free Press
"Renoir: Father and Son is no comic book of yore. This is a kinder and gentler take on the graphic novel. Jak Lemonnier has created a stellar work of art in a format that old man Renoir and his son would have approved of."
– Bonjour Paris
"Renoir: Father and Son is a stylistic departure from [Lemonnier's] other work – taking on a more detailed, almost painterly style in deference to its two subjects."
– The Beat
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High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): Renoir Hardcover 9781643131962