Study of a Nude Woman, Seated (Étude de femme nue, assise) from Twelve Original Lithographs by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (Douze lithographies originales de Pierre-Auguste Renoir)

Study of a Nude Woman, Seated (Étude de femme nue, assise) from Twelve Original Lithographs by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (Douze lithographies originales de Pierre-Auguste Renoir) is a significant example of the French master’s late-career devotion to the female form as explored through the graphic arts. This piece is one from a portfolio of twelve lithographs, created around c. 1904, and later issued in a highly anticipated publication in 1919. Renoir, who often struggled with rheumatism late in life, found the process of creating prints stimulating, allowing him to reinterpret classical subjects with a distinctly modern sensibility.

Unlike the fragmented light and focus on contemporary life found in his earlier Impressionist paintings, Renoir’s late work prioritizes sensual volume, timeless physicality, and the enduring grace of the human body. In this particular study, the seated nude is rendered with delicate, yet assured, contour lines, built up with tonal washes characteristic of the lithographic medium. Renoir utilized the transfer process skillfully, maintaining the fluidity and immediacy of a rapid charcoal sketch while achieving the rich velvety blacks essential to successful lithography.

This focus on the studio nude remained central to Renoir’s output throughout the early 20th century, cementing his reputation as a key figure in the evolution of modern French art. Although the initial drawings for Study of a Nude Woman, Seated date to c. 1904, their eventual publication in 1919 ensured that the artist’s graphic works reached a wider audience, demonstrating his versatility outside of oil painting. The piece currently resides in the esteemed collection of the Museum of Modern Art. As the original work is now considered to be in the public domain, this study continues to be widely referenced, providing valuable insight into the mastery of the aging Renoir.