George CRIONAS (1925-2004), Homage to Renoir, 1954

Etching in sepia, Arches paper; 20 x 26 cm (plate imprint);
framed 37 x 41 cm;
Numbered in pencil 14/50 and titled and signed by the author in pencil.
Original certificate attached.
The work on the left shows a sketch of Renoir reproduced by Crionas, and on the right a portrait of Renoir looking at his work.
George Crionas - born in Detroit, Michigan in 1925, his career began almost as soon as he learned to use a pencil. When George was 13, his work was published in the Detroit News. During World War II, George designed and painted emblems and insignia for the nose section of a B-29 bomber. After moving to California in 1947, Crionas began a long period of study under the masters Francis DeErderly, Rico Lebrun and Howard Warshaw. To advance his career, he drew caricatures of many celebrities at night, frequenting the bars and clubs of the era. Known for his numerous etchings, usually hand-colored by the artist in gouache, watercolor and crayon.