Portrait of Ambroise Vollard

The Portrait of Ambroise Vollard by Pierre Auguste Renoir (French, 1841-1919) is a significant example of the artist's late-career engagement with graphic media. Dated 1904, this piece is a lithograph printed on ivory wove paper, masterfully executed by the renowned printer Auguste Clot (French, 1858-1936) and published by the subject himself, the influential Parisian dealer Ambroise Vollard (French, 1835-1939). Vollard played a critical role in promoting Modern art across France, often commissioning portraits from many of the avant-garde artists he represented, thereby documenting the key figures of the Parisian art scene at the turn of the century.

Renoir utilizes the lithographic medium to capture the likeness of his publisher with the soft, diffused quality characteristic of his Impressionist style. This approach contrasts with the sharper detail often seen in reproductive prints, allowing Renoir to retain a nuanced, painterly quality within the print format. His decision to collaborate on a limited edition print underscores the commercial and artistic importance of high-quality fine art prints in the early 20th century market.

This celebrated image is an important cultural artifact from France, documenting the symbiotic relationship between artist and dealer during the height of the Modern movement. As one of the master prints from this period, this lithograph is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, offering scholars and the public crucial insight into Renoir’s final artistic explorations. Given its age and cultural significance, this work is often featured in scholarship and reproductions of historical printmaking.