Artwork
Maternity (Maternite)
Maternity (Maternite) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Auguste Renoir. It dates from 1912 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Maternity (Maternite) is a lithograph created by Auguste Renoir around 1912. The work depicts a serene scene of a mother cradling her infant close to her chest, her gentle gaze directed downward at the child.
Subject & Meaning
The subject of maternal tenderness, a theme Renoir explored in earlier paintings, is revisited here with a focus on quiet intimacy. The composition conveys a sense of calm and affection.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, the piece showcases Renoir's experimentation with the medium late in his career. Unlike brushwork, lithography involves printing from a flat stone, a technique Renoir enjoyed exploring in his later years.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1912, this lithograph represents one of Renoir's later explorations into printmaking. For further comparison, another Renoir lithograph is housed at the National Gallery of Art in Washington.
Artist & collection
Artist
Pierre-Auguste Renoir was born on 25 February 1841 in Limoges, the son of a tailor and a seamstress.
