Jean-Louis FORAIN: Portrait of Renoir

Forain was one of the most important artists of the turn of the century. Edgar Degas became a life-long friend of Forain and an important influence on his art. He introduced Forain to the Impressionist group in the late 1870s. The young artist befriended Edouard Manet and Auguste Renoir of whom he produced four lithographed portraits commissioned by Ambroise Vollard. This portrait could be compared with the later engraved portrait of Pierre Bonnard, also commissioned by Vollard. Renoir has the emaciated face of a man suffering from arthritis and severe rheumatism.