Artwork
An Old Chateau
An Old Chateau is a print by the Impressionist artist Alphonse Legros. It dates from 1884 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
The artist used lots of crosshatching—tiny overlapping lines—to build up shadows and texture.
This sketch shows a crumbling castle on a rocky hill. The lines are rough and scratchy, like quick pencil strokes. Below, a winding path cuts through uneven ground with patches of grass and trees.
The artist used lots of crosshatching—tiny overlapping lines—to build up shadows and texture. It looks like they were working fast, almost like a sketchbook page.
Look up Alphonse Legros (French, 1837–1911) next to see how his style changed over time.
Overview
An Old Chateau is a print by Alphonse Legros, created in 1884, and is part of the collection at The Cleveland Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a ruined castle situated on a rocky outcrop, with a winding path leading to it through a landscape of uneven terrain, grass, and trees.
Technique & Style
The image is characterized by rough, scratchy lines and extensive crosshatching, which creates a sense of texture and shadow, giving the impression of a quickly executed sketch.
Artist & collection
Artist
Alphonse Legros (French pronunciation: ; 8 May 1837 – 8 December 1911) was a French, later British, painter, etcher, sculptor, and medallist.
