Etude de Femme Nue Assise. by Pierre Auguste Renoir, 1841-1919

Pierre Auguste Renoir, 1841-1919
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Etude de Femme Nue Assise.

Original brush-drawn lithograph in black ink. c.1904/5. Signed in the stone. From the only issued edition. Edition originally planned as 950 impressions on wove paper, plus 50 on japan, but approx. 1/3 of edition never issued. Printed at the studio of Clot, Paris c.1905. First offered for sale by Vollard in 1919 as part of the series: Douze Lithographies Originales.
Ref: Delteil/Stella-Renoir no 42

Excellent contrasty impression. On soft white wove paper. Excellent condition. Full margins. Sheet: 13 x 9 7/8ins. Image overall approx: 8 x 6 1/2ins (200x165mm).

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Round the turn of the century Renoir?s drawing style moved away from the linear treatment of the earlier years towards an emphasis on tone. The handling of this lithograph, a study of his favourite model Gabrielle, typifies this change. Liquid washescreate soft shadows and gentle blended highlights so that the form is created by the movement of the light round the contours and over the surface. The change in style was occasioned by Renoir?s desire to concentrate on the ?visual sensation? of his image.

This lithograph was drawn as part of a series of twelve compositions commissioned from Renoir by Vollard in c.1904/5. I his memoirs Vollard relates an amusing story about having to carry one of the heavy lithographic stones around to Renoir?s studio so as to encourage him to complete the last of the series of the prints. The drawings were all completed on stone by Renoir around 1905, and the editions printed at Clot?s Studio. However Vollard did not in fact start to sell the prints until 1919.

Handled with a marvellous freedom of touch the series includes some of Renoir?s most accomplished and quietly beautiful works in the medium of lithography.