Catherine Hessling (France, 1900 - 1979) was a model and silent film actress known for her stark made-up appearance, with thinly drawn eyebrows and exaggerated lips. Before her acting career, she modeled for Auguste Renoir, doing so until his death in 1919. Subsequently, she married the artist’s son Jean Renoir, who decided to pursue a film career making Hessling his muse. She starred in 15 films between 1924 and 1935, most of them directed by her husband. The couple separated in 1931 and ultimately divorced in 1943. Though she had a short career as a dancer following the separation, she decided to live the rest of her life out of the public eye. She was photographed by Man Ray on several occasions throughout the 1920s, and the portraits highlight her expressive capabilities as an actress.