Confidence: Renoir's Most Intimate Portrait Once Owned by Greta Garbo

Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s Confidence  is a rare glimpse of a man and woman painted in startling close proximity. Not only is the crop of the image unusual --and arresting-- but the work is a stark contrast to Renoir's pictures from the 1880's. The brushstrokes in particular are much tighter, the faces more Neoclassical than ever before. These highly sought after pieces were known not only for the tenderness with which he portrayed women but his homage to fashion. The secret whispers of the couple are made even more delicate with the finely-detailed pink bow worn by his unknown female subject leaning into esteemed composer Claude Terrasse.

The insinuation of refinery and mystery were not lost on actress Greta Garbo, who owned the picture and whose home was often photographed featuring this famous image.