Pierre-Auguste Renoir. 1841-1919.
Renoir made his first etching in 1890, age 49. A year or two later, he drew his first lithograph. The famous French publisher, Ambroise Vollard, persuaded Renoir to make a series of 12 lithographs around 1904-05. The lithographs were printed by Aususte Clot, and published in 1919.
Louis Valtat. c. 1904. Lithograph. Delteil, Stella 38. 11 5/8 x 9 1/4 (sheet 13 x 9 3/4). Series: Douze Lithographies Originales de Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Edition of 950 published by Vollard. From L:'Album des Douze Lithographies Originales de Pierre-Auguste Renoir. A fine impression printed on cream laid paper with deckle edges on three sides. Signed in the stone. $4,750.
Louis Valtat, 1869-1952,was a Fauvist painter. During the winter 1897-8, he used to spend the season in Agay, a small fishing village of fishermen close to Saint Raphaël and, later on, in Anthéor, a few kilometers away. He was accompanied by Suzanne whom he married in 1900.
The same year, thanks to Renoir’s friendly recommendation, Ambroise Vollard made an agreement with Valtat, buying almost his whole production for the next 10 years.
When staying in Anthéor, Valtat and Suzanne often went across the Estérel, sometimes on their bicycles, to visit Auguste Renoir who rented “la Maison de la Poste” in Cagnes at that time. During one of these visits in 1903, Renoir painted the”Portrait de Suzanne” while Valtat drew a few ink sketches of Renoir. Renoir probably drew the lithographic portrait of his friend at that time.
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