This very charming and intriguing portrait study of Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s young son, Claude, is shown here, deep in childish though as he writes (or draws) with his quill pen. He is incredibly expressive, wearing a contemplative yet happy smile, slightly biting his index finger as if to be in deep concentration. Renoir has skillfully used background shading in order to centralize the focus and impact of his son within the composition in Renoir Little Boy with Quill Pen (Le petit garcon au porte-plume, c. 1900. We can imagine the plane of the table depicted by the manner in which Claude’s elbows rest on the surface.

Created around 1900, this original lithograph is from an only state out of an edition of 50 unsigned proofs. There is an MBM Cerange watermark visible within the sheet.

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:

Pierre-Auguste Renoir Little Boy with Quill Pen (Le petit garcon au porte-plume, c. 1900 is fully documented and referenced in the below catalogue raisonnés and texts (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices that will accompany the sale of the work).

1. Stella, J. G. The Graphic Work of Renoir – Catalogue Raisonné. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 55.
2. Delteil, L. (1999). Pierre-Auguste Renoir: L’œuvre grave et lithographié – Catalogue Raisonné. Hyman, A. (Ed.). Alan Wofsy Fine Arts: San Francisco. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 55 on pgs. 118-9.
3. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this work.

About the Framing:

Renoir Little Boy with Quill Pen (Le petit garcon au porte-plume, c. 1900 is framed to museum-grade, conservation standards, presented in a complimentary moulding and finished with silk-wrapped mats and optical grade Plexiglas.