Femme nue couché (Stella 14). Original etching, c. 1906.
Created in 1906 this is a possible lifetime impression with its clear and clean etched lines, this drypoint etching is a State II (of II) impression.
This lovely image captures a sense of innocence and repose. With his delicate use of line, Renoir conveys a sense of grace and femininity. The model's closed eyes and relaxed features convey a sense of calm and tranquility that is further echoed in the plush pillows and bed. Ferloni and Spiess state, "The culmination of his work is found in his many paintings of the female nude. Though undoubtedly influenced by Rubens and Boucher, for Renoir the nude did not so much provide an occasion to explore erotic nuance as to celebrate innocence. One of the most appealing aspects of his work is the absence of anxiety that is so apparent in his treatment of the nude."(Pierre-Auguste Renoir, by Michel Ferloni & Dominique Spiess). |