Study for a Female Bather

The intimate Study for a Female Bather is a distinctive print by the French master Pierre Auguste Renoir (1841-1919). Dating from his late career, between 1901 and 1911, this work exemplifies the artist’s enduring fascination with the female nude, a core subject for him even as his style matured away from pure Impressionism toward a more robust classicism. This image was realized through the drypoint technique, utilizing dark brown ink impressed upon ivory laid paper.

Drypoint, a method where the artist scratches directly into a metal plate, leaves a raised edge, or burr, alongside the incision. This burr catches the ink during printing, resulting in lines that possess a characteristic softness and velvety texture, ideally suited for conveying the pliable contours of the human figure.

Renoir, despite growing physical limitations later in life, frequently used drawings and prints during this decade to develop compositions for larger oil paintings. The bather theme allowed him to explore idealized forms reminiscent of classical sculpture and Renaissance painting, moving toward a style that emphasized volume and permanence. Here, the figure is rendered quickly and expressively, capturing a preparatory pose that likely informed one of his monumental canvases of bathers. The simplicity and directness of the drypoint reveal the compositional intensity driving the French artist at this time. This significant print is held in the extensive collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it serves as a key example of the master’s transitionary late style. High-quality images of this work are frequently available through public domain initiatives, allowing wide access to Renoir’s mastery of prints.