Irène Reno (1884–1953)
The Corsican Pavilion at the 1937 Paris Exposition
Charcoal, red chalk, and colored pencil; signed, titled, and dated in the lower left corner,
Dimensions: 31.5 x 40.5 cm, 50 x 65.5 (with frame)
Condition: minor stains, frame damaged
Certificate of Authenticity
Irena Hassenberg (Reno) (1884 Warsaw – 1953 Paris) – a Polish-French painter and printmaker associated with the École de Paris circle. She studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich and at the School of Fine Arts in Warsaw; subsequently, from around 1905–1907, she lived and worked in Paris, where she obtained French citizenship in 1923/1926.
She regularly exhibited at the Parisian Salons: the Salon d’Automne, the Salon des Indépendants, and the Salon des Tuileries, as well as at the Druet, d’Art Contemporain, and du Portique galleries. She participated in exhibitions of Polish art in France, including at the Salon de la Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts.
She is best known for her atmospheric cityscapes (Paris, New York, Melun, Monaco, Kraków), harbor views, and still lifes. Critics highlight her expressive, dynamic line work and her attention to the atmosphere of a place—she is considered one of the first European women to paint Manhattan from the perspective of an École de Paris artist.
