1904
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Claude Renoir, head lowered (Claude Renoir, la tete baissee) is a 1904 ink by Auguste Renoir, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a young child with their head tilted down, looking shy or tired. The hair is messy, and the face is drawn with quick, soft lines. The child wears a high-necked dress with ruffles at the collar, and the sleeves are puffy at the shoulders. The artist used loose strokes—some lines are barely there, others are darker. This was an early test print, so the ink looks uneven in spots. Next, check out lithography to see how artists like this made prints with stone and ink.
Pierre-Auguste Renoir was born on 25 February 1841 in Limoges, the son of a tailor and a seamstress.
See the richer artist page
