Woman by the Grapevine, Third Variant (Femme au cep de vigne, 3e variante) from Twelve Original Lithographs by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (Douze lithographies originales de Pierre-Auguste Renoir)

Woman by the Grapevine, Third Variant (Femme au cep de vigne, 3e variante) from Twelve Original Lithographs by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (Douze lithographies originales de Pierre-Auguste Renoir) is a key example of the French artist’s late-career interest in printmaking. Created by Pierre-Auguste Renoir around 1904, this work is one element within a portfolio of twelve significant lithographs, though the portfolio was not formally published until 1919.

Renoir’s characteristic artistic preoccupation with the idealized female form is evident in this subject. The figure, draped lightly and positioned against the dense foliage of a grapevine, evokes a timeless, pastoral sensibility often associated with classical mythology or the celebration of the harvest. Renoir, known initially as an Impressionist painter, utilized the lithographic process to translate the soft, atmospheric qualities of his drawings into reproducible prints. The medium allowed him to achieve a subtle interplay of light and shadow, relying on delicate, feathery strokes rather than the bold outlines of traditional etching.

The existence of a Woman by the Grapevine, Third Variant suggests Renoir’s continuous refinement of favored motifs. The artist was often aided in the technical production of his prints by experienced printers, whose collaboration ensured that the spontaneous quality of Renoir’s hand was maintained on the stone. This work is reflective of the visual aesthetic of early 20th-century French art, bridging the gap between late Impressionism and modern figurative drawing.

Renoir dedicated serious attention to creating high-quality prints toward the end of his life, solidifying lithography as an independent artistic pursuit rather than simply a means of mass reproduction. This influential piece, executed c. 1904, published 1919, remains a widely referenced example of the artist’s later graphic output and is housed in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art.