Woman Seated in a Chair (recto); Woman in a Chair, Seen from the Back (verso) c. 1883

Pierre-Auguste Renoir made this drawing, "Woman Seated in a Chair," using graphite on paper. Though seemingly simple, the drawing is built up through countless tiny strokes, a real investment of time and labor. Notice how the material of the graphite allows Renoir to achieve a subtle range of tones, from the softest grays to deep blacks, creating volume and depth. You can almost feel the texture of the paper beneath the graphite. Although the drawing appears effortless, Renoir's mastery of the medium is evident in the way he captures the delicate curve of the woman's face and the flowing lines of her dress. What makes this drawing special is the way Renoir uses a humble material like graphite to create a sense of intimacy and immediacy, blurring the line between the so-called ‘high art’ of painting, and the more accessible world of drawing.