Portrait of Richard Wagner

The Portrait of Richard Wagner by Pierre Auguste Renoir French, 1841-1919, is a striking example of the artist's engagement with graphic arts, executed as a lithograph between 1895 and 1905. While Renoir is primarily celebrated for his Impressionist paintings, this work showcases his ability to translate his sensitive approach to form and character into the high-contrast linear medium of printmaking. The image was created as a lithograph in black on ivory wove paper, emphasizing the severe profile of the influential German composer Richard Wagner.

Although Wagner had died in 1883, his profound musical legacy continued to inspire artists and thinkers across France and Europe during the fin-de-siècle. Renoir’s choice of subject reflects the pervasive cultural resonance of Wagnerian themes within French intellectual circles at the turn of the century. As a classification of print, the work demonstrates the late-career interest Renoir developed for producing limited-edition graphic studies, often capturing influential figures outside of his usual roster of genre scenes and nudes.

This piece provides important insight into the production of prints by major Impressionist figures and serves as a valuable document of French cultural output from the period. The work is held within the renowned collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it contributes to the museum’s extensive holdings of modern European art. As the original work ages, high-quality reference prints of this significant Portrait of Richard Wagner are frequently made available, contributing valuable resources to scholars and the growing collection of public domain artworks.