Le Chapeau Epingle The Pinned Hat Appraisal

Le Chapeau Épinglé (The Pinned Hat) by Pierre-Auguste Renoir

This item is an etching on paper depicting two young girls adjusting a floral-adorned hat, titled 'Le Chapeau Épinglé' (The Pinned Hat), attributed to the renowned French Impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir. The artwork is a fine example of late 19th-century printmaking, executed in black ink on a cream-colored woven paper. The composition is characterized by soft, delicate linework and dense cross-hatching used to create depth and texture, particularly in the girls' hair and the intricate floral details of the hats. The etching measures approximately 4.5 by 3 inches within the plate mark, though this example appears to have been trimmed or matted close to the plate edges. A faint stamped signature 'Renoir' is visible in the lower-left corner of the plate. The subject matter—the daughters of Berthe Morisot—is iconic of Renoir's intimate portraiture style. Regarding condition, the paper exhibits signs of age-related oxidation or foxing, visible as slight discoloration in the surrounding margins. The print appears stable within its mount, though there is a faint horizontal line through the center likely caused by a reflection on the glass covering during photography. The light ink transfer and soft plate edges suggest this may be a later 20th-century impression (posthumous) rather than a lifetime strike, which is common for this specific plate. The craftsmanship reflects the Impressionist focus on light and domestic tenderness.