The Pinned Hat, second plate

The Pinned Hat, second plate, is a captivating print created by Pierre Auguste Renoir (French, 1841-1919) between 1893 and 1903. This work exemplifies Renoir's late career fascination with graphic arts and the expressive potential of lithography, a medium expertly executed for him by the renowned French printer Auguste Clot (French, 1858-1936).

The piece is a delicate lithograph pulled from a single stone, rendered in a subtle blue-gray ink that suggests depth and texture rather than relying on sharp outline. Characteristic of fine French prints of this era, the image itself is printed on thin, delicate gray chine paper, which has been carefully tipped at the corners and margins onto a heavier backing sheet for stability. This technique, known as chine collé, lends a unique atmospheric quality and textural variation to the final impression, highlighting the subtlety of Renoir’s drawn line.

Created during a period when Renoir was moving away from the purely fleeting aspects of Impressionism toward more structured, classical forms, this lithograph reflects his ongoing commitment to intimate, human subjects, often depicting young women. The decade spanning 1893 to 1903 was crucial for the development of modern printmaking in France, with artists frequently collaborating with master printers like Clot to push the boundaries of the medium. Today, this beautiful example of late 19th-century French prints is preserved in the extensive collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, making this historic image available to the public.