Artwork
Portrait de Renoir (4e planche) (Portrait of Renoir) (fourth plate)
Portrait de Renoir (4e planche) (Portrait of Renoir) (fourth plate) is an ink print by Jean-Louis Forain. It dates from 1905 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1905, this transfer lithograph on wove paper presents a portrait of Pierre‑Auguste Renoir.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1905, this transfer lithograph on wove paper presents a portrait of Pierre‑Auguste Renoir. Executed by French artist Jean‑Louis Forain, the image belongs to a series of likenesses he produced of fellow Impressionists. The work measures modestly and retains the warm, yellow‑toned surface of the paper, with the artist’s signature placed discreetly in the lower corner.
Subject & Meaning
The figure depicted is Renoir, recognizable by his dark hat and coat, a cigarette held between his fingers, and a gaze directed slightly downward. Forain’s rendering captures a moment of informal contemplation, emphasizing the personal connection between two members of the Impressionist circle and offering a glimpse into the social milieu of early twentieth‑century Parisian artists.
Technique & Style
The image was produced through a transfer lithographic process, allowing Forain to reproduce the immediacy of a sketch on paper. Loose, gestural lines define the face and attire, while the warm, yellowish tone of the wove paper contributes to the overall atmosphere. Visible edge marks suggest a rapid execution, characteristic of Forain’s graphic practice.
History & Provenance
Forain, known for his work across oil, watercolor, pastel, etching, and lithography, created this portrait as part of a broader series of artist portraits.
Forain, known for his work across oil, watercolor, pastel, etching, and lithography, created this portrait as part of a broader series of artist portraits. Though his reputation has been eclipsed by more celebrated contemporaries, the piece remains a documented example of his printmaking activity in the early 1900s. Its provenance traces back to the artist’s studio, where it was signed and likely distributed among his acquaintances.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jean-Louis Forain (French pronunciation: ; 23 October 1852 – 11 July 1931) was a French Impressionist painter and printmaker, working in media including oils, watercolour, pastel, etching and lithograph.
