Claude Renoir Peignant
Print - Lithograph on woven paper • After Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Style & Movement
Impressionism
Medium & Technique
Lithograph in sanguine (reddish-brown) ink, replicating the appearance of a charcoal or chalk drawing.
Creation Period
Circa 1904 (Original wash drawing date); Print likely mid-20th century edition.
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 12 x 10 inches (sight); Portrait format.
Subject Description
The artwork depicts Claude Renoir (the artist's third son, known as 'Coco') as a young boy intently painting at an easel. The composition uses soft, gestural lines to convey childhood focus and domestic intimacy, a recurring theme in Renoir's later works.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good. Visible uniform toning/acidification of the paper (yellowing) and slight rippling suggest long-term contact with non-archival materials.
Estimated Market Value
$100 - $300
Auction Estimate
$75 - $150
Provenance History
Inherited by the current owner from their mother; likely acquired through a mid-century gallery or estate sale specializing in European prints.
Art Historical Significance
While a reproduction or later-edition print, the image itself is a classic example of Renoir's celebration of family life and the 'innocent eye' of the child artist. It reflects the artist's move toward more solid forms and sanguine tones in his mature period.
Notable Features
Features the signature 'Renoir' in the lower right (in the stone/plate). The sanguine ink color is intended to mimic traditional 'Trois Crayons' drawings popular in 18th-century French art, which Renoir greatly admired.
Condition Issues
Paper acidification (browning), possible foxing spotting obscured by the tone, and mechanical framing rippling. The green and gold frame appears to be a 1970s-era commercial mounting.
Conservation Recommendations
Restoration is not economically viable given the market value, but replacing the current mat with acid-free museum board and UV-protective glass would slow further deterioration.
Collector Notes
Inherited from mother