diff --git a/doc/_quartodoc.yml b/doc/_quartodoc.yml
index 4ac6c526d..6414031a5 100644
--- a/doc/_quartodoc.yml
+++ b/doc/_quartodoc.yml
@@ -586,6 +586,10 @@ quartodoc:
       contents:
           - get_aesthetic_limits
 
+    - package: plotnine.session
+      contents:
+          - last_plot
+
     - title: Datasets
       desc: |
         These datasets ship with the plotnine and you can import them with
diff --git a/plotnine/composition/_compose.py b/plotnine/composition/_compose.py
index 010c07d8d..816ca5199 100644
--- a/plotnine/composition/_compose.py
+++ b/plotnine/composition/_compose.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 from ..composition._plot_layout import plot_layout
 from ..composition._types import ComposeAddable
 from ..options import get_option
+from ..session import set_last_plot
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from pathlib import Path
@@ -559,6 +560,7 @@ def _draw(cmp):
             self.theme.apply()
             figure.set_layout_engine(PlotnineLayoutEngine(self))
 
+        set_last_plot(self)
         return figure
 
     def _draw_plots(self):
diff --git a/plotnine/ggplot.py b/plotnine/ggplot.py
index 5328c7ec2..f1fa90fe2 100755
--- a/plotnine/ggplot.py
+++ b/plotnine/ggplot.py
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
 from .mapping.aes import aes
 from .options import get_option
 from .scales.scales import Scales
+from .session import set_last_plot
 from .themes.theme import theme, theme_get
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -374,6 +375,7 @@ def draw(self, *, show: bool = False) -> Figure:
             self.theme.apply()
             figure.set_layout_engine(PlotnineLayoutEngine(self))
 
+        set_last_plot(self)
         return figure
 
     def _setup(self) -> Figure:
diff --git a/plotnine/session.py b/plotnine/session.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..abf5a284d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plotnine/session.py
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+"""
+Session state for plotnine
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from plotnine.composition._compose import Compose
+    from plotnine.ggplot import ggplot
+
+__all__ = ("last_plot",)
+
+LAST_PLOT: ggplot | Compose | None = None
+
+
+def last_plot() -> ggplot | Compose | None:
+    """
+    Retrieve the last plot rendered in this session
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    ggplot | Compose | None
+        The last plot that was rendered via `draw()`, `save()`,
+        or notebook display. Returns `None` if no plot has been
+        rendered yet.
+    """
+    return LAST_PLOT
+
+
+def set_last_plot(plot: ggplot | Compose) -> None:
+    """
+    Save the last plot rendered in this session
+    """
+    global LAST_PLOT
+    LAST_PLOT = plot
+
+
+def reset_last_plot() -> None:
+    """
+    Clear the last plot rendered in this session
+    """
+    global LAST_PLOT
+    LAST_PLOT = None
diff --git a/plotnine/themes/theme.py b/plotnine/themes/theme.py
index 98ebc9cd7..d32fbb03e 100644
--- a/plotnine/themes/theme.py
+++ b/plotnine/themes/theme.py
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ class theme:
     # be targeted for theming by the themeables
     # It is initialised in the setup method.
     targets: ThemeTargets
+    _is_retina = False
 
     def __init__(
         self,
@@ -463,8 +464,13 @@ def to_retina(self) -> theme:
 
         The result is a theme that has double the dpi.
         """
+        if self._is_retina:
+            return deepcopy(self)
+
         dpi = self.getp("dpi")
-        return self + theme(dpi=dpi * 2)
+        self = self + theme(dpi=dpi * 2)
+        self._is_retina = True
+        return self
 
     def _smart_title_and_subtitle_ha(
         self, title: str | None, subtitle: str | None
diff --git a/tests/test_session.py b/tests/test_session.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f18be3a1b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_session.py
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+from tempfile import NamedTemporaryFile
+
+from plotnine import aes, geom_point, ggplot
+from plotnine.composition import Compose
+from plotnine.data import mtcars
+from plotnine.session import last_plot, reset_last_plot
+
+
+def test_last_plot_initially_none():
+    reset_last_plot()
+    assert last_plot() is None
+
+
+def test_last_plot_after_draw():
+    reset_last_plot()
+    p = ggplot(mtcars, aes("wt", "mpg")) + geom_point()
+    p.draw()
+    assert last_plot() is not None
+    assert isinstance(last_plot(), ggplot)
+
+
+def test_last_plot_after_save(tmp_path):
+    reset_last_plot()
+    p = ggplot(mtcars, aes("wt", "mpg")) + geom_point()
+
+    with NamedTemporaryFile(suffix=".png") as tmp_file:
+        p.save(tmp_file.name, verbose=False)
+
+    result = last_plot()
+    assert result is not None
+    # save() deepcopies, so last_plot won't be the same object
+    assert isinstance(result, ggplot)
+
+
+def test_last_plot_tracks_compose():
+    reset_last_plot()
+    p1 = ggplot(mtcars, aes("wt", "mpg")) + geom_point()
+    p2 = ggplot(mtcars, aes("hp", "mpg")) + geom_point()
+    compose = p1 | p2
+    compose.draw()
+    result = last_plot()
+    assert result is not None
+    assert isinstance(result, Compose)