Le Chapeau Épinglé (The Pinned Hat), 3e Planche
Print; drypoint etching on paper • Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841–1919)
Style & Movement
Impressionism
Medium & Technique
Etching and drypoint. The technique involves incising lines into a metal plate with a needle, capturing the soft, feathered linework characteristic of Impressionist printmaking.
Creation Period
Original plate created circa 1894; this specific impression is a later restrike, likely from the mid-20th century.
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 4.5 x 3.25 inches (plate size); Portrait format.
Subject Description
The image depicts two young girls, commonly identified as the daughter of Berthe Morisot (Julie Manet) and her cousin. One girl is shown adjusting the floral hat of the other. The composition is intimate and domestic, focusing on tactile interaction and the play of light through cross-hatched lines.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good to Very Good. The paper shows slight toning (yellowing) consistent with age and exposure to non-archival mounting materials.
Estimated Market Value
$800 - $1,200
Auction Estimate
$600 - $900
Provenance History
Likely from a later edition published post-1920 (possibly by Vollard or a later publisher using the original canceled or un-canceled plates). No specific collector stamps are visible in the image.
Art Historical Significance
This is one of Renoir's most famous graphic works. While he was primarily a painter, his etchings translate his 'Bouguereau' period softness into a linear medium. It captures the late 19th-century bourgeois leisure aesthetic and his close relationship with the family of Berthe Morisot.
Notable Features
Features the etched signature 'Renoir' in the lower left of the plate. As a restrike (Delteil 8), the lines are slightly less crisp than a lifetime impression but retain the essential charm of the original composition.
Condition Issues
Visible mat burn (darkening of paper edges) near the window of the mat; potential acidity from the pink secondary mat; slight foxing or dust specks on the peripheral paper.
Conservation Recommendations
Remove from the current acidic pink matting; remount using acid-free, archival museum board and UV-protective glass to prevent further darkening of the paper fibers.
Collector Notes
Chapeau Epingle D #8 original etching (restrike) Renoir August