Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Le Chapeau Épinglé (The Pinned Hat), 3rd Plate

This is a small-scale monochrome etching or drypoint on paper, attributed to the renowned French Impressionist artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841–1919). The work, titled 'Le Chapeau Épinglé' (The Pinned Hat), depicts two young girls, commonly identified as the daughter of Berthe Morisot and her cousin, focused on pinning a wide-brimmed floral hat. The composition is characterized by soft, delicate linework and dense cross-hatching typical of Renoir’s late 19th-century graphic style. The print is executed in black ink on a cream or off-white wove paper, which appears to have aged to a warm, light tan patina. Visible in the lower-left corner of the plate is the artist's etched signature 'Renoir'. The artwork is mounted within a multi-layered paper mat featuring a decorative double-line border in a reddish-brown ink. The condition shows some slight yellowing of the paper consistent with age, though the ink remains deep and well-defined. This plate was originally created circa 1894 and saw various posthumous editions in the early 20th century. The quality of the impression suggests a later state, likely from a book edition or a later restrike from the original plate. The piece displays the characteristic Impressionist focus on intimate, domestic scenes and the interplay of light and texture.

I have virtually examined this etching titled 'Le Chapeau Épinglé' (The Pinned Hat), 3rd Plate, by Pierre-Auguste Renoir. My visual assessment identifies this as a later impression, likely from a posthumous edition such as those printed for 'Renoir' by Ambroise Vollard in 1919 or later restrikes. The plate signature is clear, but the absence of a hand-signed pencil signature and the paper’s texture—exhibiting a warm patina and minor oxidation—suggest a common trade or book edition rather than the rare 1894 lifetime proofs. The condition appears fair to good; there is visible toning and minor acid discoloration from previous matting, though the plate mark remains distinct and the ink saturation is strong. In the current market, Renoir’s late 19th-century prints remain steady in demand due to his blue-chip status. Similar posthumous states of this specific plate regularly realize between $800 and $1,800 at auction. The value is capped by the high number of restrikes in circulation. Critically, digital examination cannot definitively confirm the paper’s watermark (such as 'Arches' or 'MBM'), which is essential for dating the specific edition. To finalize authentication, I would require an in-person inspection to measure the plate mark precisely against known catalogs (Delteil 8), examine the paper's chain lines under backlit conditions, and review any available provenance documentation. Until the paper is verified as contemporary to a specific known edition, this value represents a fair market estimate for a genuine posthumous impression.