Standing Female Bather

Standing Female Bather by Pierre Auguste Renoir (French, 1841-1919), printed by Auguste Clot (French, 1858-1936), is an accomplished example of color lithography produced during the turn of the 20th century (1891-1901). Renoir’s engagement with printmaking at this time allowed him to explore the sensuality and texture of the human form through a medium designed for mass reproducibility. This specific print utilizes four distinct colors-rose, blue, ochre, and dark blue-gray-applied meticulously to cream laid paper, a technical feat managed by the distinguished master printer Auguste Clot in France.

The subject of the nude bather was central to Renoir's late career. Unlike his earlier Impressionist works, which focused on the ephemeral effects of light, this piece demonstrates a robust, classical form, characteristic of his mature style. The use of multiple stones in the lithograph process achieves a richness and depth often associated with painting, allowing for the soft modeling of the figure and the integration of atmospheric color harmonies. The palette emphasizes warm flesh tones set against cool, often blue-tinged, backgrounds, hallmarks of his compositions from this period.

As an important example of French art from the late 19th century, the work showcases the collaborative relationship between artist and printer that defined the era's revitalization of graphic arts. This vibrant piece is classified among the celebrated prints within the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it serves as a key reference for Renoir’s complex late output. Today, many of the artist's lithographs and subsequent reproductions are part of the growing body of works available within the public domain, cementing Renoir's enduring influence on modern depictions of the female figure.