Who painted Bust of a Young Woman (Jeune femme en buste)?

Bust of a Young Woman (Jeune femme en buste) was painted by Pierre-Auguste Renoir in 1892.

Where can I see Bust of a Young Woman (Jeune femme en buste)?

Bust of a Young Woman (Jeune femme en buste) is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Bust of a Young Woman (Jeune femme en buste)?

Bust of a Young Woman (Jeune femme en buste) is associated with Impressionism.

Can I buy a print of Bust of a Young Woman (Jeune femme en buste)?

Museum-quality prints of Bust of a Young Woman (Jeune femme en buste) are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Bust of a Young Woman (Jeune femme en buste)

Pierre-Auguste Renoir , 1892

Bust of a Young Woman (Jeune femme en buste) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir. It dates from 1892 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Auguste Renoir’s 1892 lithograph entitled Bust of a Young Woman (French: Jeune femme en buste) presents a half‑length portrait of a female sitter. Rendered in a single, soft‑focused composition, the work captures the subject’s face, hair, and draped shoulders with a light, atmospheric touch.

Subject & Meaning

The image portrays a young woman whose hair is gathered high and whose attire falls loosely around her shoulders. The lack of sharp contouring and the gentle gradations of tone suggest an intimate, informal study rather than a formal commission, emphasizing the fleeting qualities of light and expression.

Technique & Style

Executed in lithography, Renoir drew directly onto a smooth limestone surface, allowing the inked lines to retain a loose, sketch‑like quality when transferred to paper. This method preserves the fluid, smudged strokes and subtle shading that characterize the work, echoing the artist’s plein‑air sensibility within a print medium.

History & Provenance

Created in the early 1890s, the print belongs to a period when Renoir explored graphic media alongside his oil paintings. While specific ownership records are limited, the lithograph is catalogued among Renoir’s printed oeuvre and appears in several museum collections that document his experiments with lithographic techniques.