Standing Bather

The print Standing Bather was created by Pierre Auguste Renoir French, 1841-1919, likely dating from the decade between 1905 and 1915. This late-period work showcases the artist’s characteristic shift toward the monumental female nude, departing from the purely optical concerns of Impressionism to emphasize classical volume and form. The work is an etching executed on cream wove paper, demonstrating Renoir’s proficiency across various printmaking mediums alongside his celebrated oil canvases.

During his final years, Renoir concentrated heavily on the figure study, treating the female body as a symbol of timeless, classical beauty rather than a modern subject. The composition here captures a robust bather in a moment of poised stillness, utilizing the precision of the etched line to define contour and mass. This focus on defining sculptural form links his late work back into the grand tradition of French figural art, even while his technique maintains the softness characteristic of his style.

This particular print, Standing Bather, serves as an important document of Renoir's late artistic vision. The original impression is housed within the prestigious collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, contributing to the museum’s comprehensive holdings of graphic works from France. Because this artwork is now in the public domain, high-quality prints and reproductions are widely accessible, allowing global appreciation of the technical dexterity Renoir displayed even as his health declined.