Pierre-Auguste Renoir Etching, Unique Originals

One of the most striking examples of Renoir's mastery of the printmaking medium, this series of 12 lithographs depicts Rembrandt's favorite subjects in his signature soft, impressionistic style. Through this series, we feel as though we have been allowed a very private glimpse into Renoir's personal life.

Related to Renoir's famed images of couples dancing, this work captures the easy embrace of the woman and her partner. The lush background and country clothes emphasize the relaxed nature of the scene.

Perhaps the boldest of the Woman by the Grapevine works, this striking piece depicts thick strokes of black that create a strong sense of contrast, highlighting the figure of the nude and the curve of the grapevine against the soft background.

Upon first look this work appears to be of a female child, but the child is in fact Claude Renoir, Renoir's son. Renoir's style was to feminize his sons by focusing on their long girlish hair, which was a representation of his bourgeois family lifestyle. Renoir was 60 years old when Claude was born, and in this image Renoir seems to take delight in the child's exploration of the world. This is seen in Claude's inquisitive stare that threatens to give way at any moment to the child's developing question.

Renoir held a strong admiration for the female form, and this Stone with Three Sketches portrays his interest in accurately portraying the reality of women during his time period. What makes this piece noteworthy is that the women seem to be in an aura of bliss, with the focus on their faces rather than their bodies.

Renoir highlights a brief moment between friends in this etching. With characteristically delicate lines, he captures the fleeting instant that was a central subject for the Impressionists.

Depicting Renoir's favorite subject, this lovely print captures a sense of innocence and repose. The woman on the couch conveys grace and femininity while exuding tranquility. Renoir was more than comfortable working with nudes, and the absence of any hesitation in this piece is apparent.

Offering an intimate example of Renoir's graphic style, this image displays great tonal variation and spontaneity of execution.

One of Renoir's favored graphic motifs, this image depicts two female figures juxtaposed with sensuous grapevines. The artist's fluid handling of the brush offers a visceral sense of motion which activates the work.

Highlighting two nudes, this marvelous print is noteworthy for the varied depictions that Renoir offers of a woman by a grapevine. Instilled with a sense of intrigue, we are left wondering if this work depicts two studies of the same woman or an image of two different models.

Framing his subject within a rectangular composition, Renoir uses delicate, sporadic lines rather than his usual soft, thick strokes to instill this work with a sense of animation, as his exquisite nude subject bends over to examine a grapevine.

Returning to one of his favored subjects, Renoir portrays this classic nude in a quiet seated pose. The work is prized for its transluecent watercolor texture and soft imagery.

Depicting a touching moment between mother and child, Maternité, Grande Planche exudes a sense of love and dedication. Renoir here addresses one of his favorite subjects, motherhood, as the relationship between mother and child is full of optimism, tenderness, and discovery.

There was no subject that inspired Renoir more than his family, and in Le petit garcon au porte-plume, Renoir depicts his son, Claude Renoir, with such affection and admiration that over 100 years later we are still charmed by this portrait study. In this particular piece, Renoir has skillfully used the background shading to centralize the focus and impact of his son within the composition. Claude is depicted as incredibly expressive, which is something only seen in Renoir's works of his children and large groups, making the work quite a gem to own.

Les Baigneuses is a rare work by Renoir that is not only impressive for its sheer size, but also for its subject, a bathing scene, which is reminiscent of classical Greek mythology. Renoir captures the luminosity of the women's flesh in a dream-like environment, which was inspired by his travels around Europe and experiences viewing artwork.

Upon first look this work appears to be of a female child, but the child is in fact Claude Renoir, Renoir's son. Renoir's style was to feminize his sons by focusing on their long girlish hair, which was a representation of his bourgeois family lifestyle. Renoir was 60 years old when Claude was born, and in this image Renoir seems to cherish the image of his son. This is seen in Claude's calm demeanor, implying that Renoir simply wanted to memorialize his son rather than project his life, making the work an extremely moving piece.

Ambroise Vollard was the foremost Parisian art dealer of the early twentieth century who had a second career as a publisher of prints and fine illustrated books. Renoir was close friends with the publisher and drew him on several occasions, mainly depicted as a toreador (bullfighter). What makes this particular piece incredible is that this work represents an intimate view of Vollard as seen through Renoir's eyes. Appearing quietly introspective, a sense of depth and beauty is mastered in this piece.

Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director and essayist, who was primarily known for his operas. This intriguing portrait is based on a sketch Renoir completed in twenty-five minutes when he met Wagner in 1882. The meeting obviously had an impression on Renoir, and this work captures a sense of urgency and speed, which in turn allows Wagner to be depicted in both a physical and mental likeness.

Louis Valtat was a French painter associated with the Fauvist movement (art that used intense pure colors in a totally non-naturalistic way) and one of Renoir's closest friends. Their families would vacation together, and in this portrait of Valtat, we witness a tenderness unseen in other portraits of Renoir's friends. This softness, along with Valtat's contemplative expression, makes this work an intriguing addition to any collection.

This exquisite piece is notable for the nude's placement in nature. One of Renoir's beliefs was the strong association of women being aligned to nature, but the style of this work is what makes this particular piece extraordinary. There is a soft blending of ink, but no appearance of definitive lines or borders. This creates little distinction between the woman and the surrounding vegetation making Renoir's belief quite apparent.

The bather in this work evokes a kind of sensuality that is characteristic of Renoir's interpretation of nude women. Renoir's subtle handling of his subject's body through delicate details is noteworthy in this work. Within this particular piece there is also an expert handling of light that, when mixed with the soft-ground medium, further evokes the quiet contemplative beauty of this young female subject.

This work is incredibly unique as Renoir depicts his long time maid Gabrielle in a rather dignified manner, choosing to focus solely on her face. Renoir was very consumed with his bourgeois lifestyle, and, therefore, any representation of his servants is a rare find. In this particular work, the three sketches appear quite intimate. This is seen through Renoir's use of shading while creating strong definitive lines that imply a sense of confidence from both the artist and that of his muse.

Upon first look this work appears to be of a female child, but the child is in fact Claude Renoir, Renoir's son. Renoir's style was to feminize his sons by focusing on their long girlish hair, which was a representation of his bourgeois family lifestyle. Renoir presents quite an intimate rendering of his son, relaying a sense of familial care and devotion. This work is executed in a gestural fashion, as Renoir manipulates light and form to capture the triumphal youth of his child.