How did Pierre-Auguste Renoir continue painting when he could no longer use his fingers easily?

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Pierre-Auguste Renoir Self-portrait by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, oil on canvas, 1910; in the Archives Denyse Durand-Ruel, Rueil-Malmaison, France.

Despite suffering from severe rheumatism that eventually left his fingers unable to move with their former suppleness, Pierre-Auguste Renoir remained dedicated to his craft. To continue painting, he adapted his technique by binding his paintbrush directly to his hand.1

Even as his physical mobility declined—he was unable to walk by 1910—he maintained a cheerful and serene approach to his work, focusing on intimate subjects such as his family, his maid, and the landscapes surrounding his home in Cagnes. When he could no longer perform sculpture himself, he directed the young artist Richard Guino to execute his visions, ensuring his artistic style was preserved.1