Artwork

Evening

Evening, by Albert Lebourg, 1879
Evening, by Albert Lebourg, 1879

Evening is a drawing by the Impressionist artist Albert Lebourg. It dates from 1879 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

The drawing 'Evening' by Albert Lebourg depicts a serene scene of three women engaged in sewing under the soft light of an oil lamp.

Subject & Meaning

The subjects of the drawing are the artist's mother, sister, and wife, who are seated together yet individually absorbed in their work, conveying a sense of quiet domesticity.

Technique & Style

Lebourg employed a distinctive technique, building the composition from dark to light by covering the paper with charcoal and then selectively removing it to reveal highlights, such as the glow on the women's hands and the lamp's glass chimney.

Context

The use of chiaroscuro, an artistic technique that exploits the contrast between light and dark, is evident in this work, creating a photographic-like effect that was innovative for its time.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Albert Lebourg

Artist

Albert Lebourg

Albert Lebourg (1 February 1849, in Montfort-sur-Risle – 6 January 1928, in Rouen), birth name Albert-Marie Lebourg, also called Albert-Charles Lebourg and Charles Albert Lebourg, was a French Impressionist and…

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.