Who painted Bowing before the Tree (L'arbre de salut)?

Bowing before the Tree (L'arbre de salut) was painted by Alphonse Legros in 1884.

Where can I see Bowing before the Tree (L'arbre de salut)?

Bowing before the Tree (L'arbre de salut) is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Bowing before the Tree (L'arbre de salut)?

Bowing before the Tree (L'arbre de salut) is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Bowing before the Tree (L'arbre de salut)

Alphonse Legros , 1884

Bowing before the Tree (L'arbre de salut) 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

Overview

Alphonse Legros’s 1884 print Bowing before the Tree (L’arbre de salut) is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection. The work depicts two modestly dressed women kneeling before a tree that bears a cross, set against a softly rendered sky. Their posture and gestures convey a quiet, reverent atmosphere.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on two women in long, plain garments and head coverings, their heads bowed and one hand placed near her face. By positioning them before a tree marked with a cross, Legros evokes themes of prayer, salvation, and contemplation, inviting viewers to consider personal devotion within a natural setting.

Technique & Style

Executed as a print, the image employs delicate tonal contrasts and a slightly blurred background to suggest atmospheric conditions. The handling of line and shading aligns with late‑19th‑century French realism, while the softened edges and emphasis on light echo aspects of contemporary Impressionist practice.

History & Provenance

Created in 1884, the work entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition (specific details of the purchase are not recorded in the available sources). It remains a representative example of Legros’s printmaking during the period when he was active in both academic and avant‑garde circles.