Artwork
La butte aux broussailles
La butte aux broussailles 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
La butte aux broussailles, a print executed by Alphonse Legros in 1884, is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work depicts a rugged, undulating hill populated by twisted trees and tangled brush, rendered in a sketch‑like manner that emphasizes the raw character of the landscape.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a solitary, hilly terrain where natural forms dominate the composition. By foregrounding the irregularity of the trees and scrub, Legros invites viewers to contemplate the unrefined aspects of nature, suggesting a preference for authenticity over idealized scenery.
Technique & Style
Legros employs quick, uneven pencil‑like strokes that create a scratchy surface texture. Contrasting light and shadow are achieved through varied line density, allowing portions of the scene to recede into darkness while others emerge with clearer definition, a hallmark of a realist approach to drawing.
History & Provenance
Created in the late nineteenth century, the print entered the holdings of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s interest in works that illustrate the realist tendencies of French artists during the 1880s.
Artist & collection
Artist
Alphonse Legros (French pronunciation: ; 8 May 1837 – 8 December 1911) was a French, later British, painter, etcher, sculptor, and medallist.
Edge of a Wood (Lisiere de bois)
In the Pyrenees (Dans les Pyrenees)
The Traveler Stretched out on the Grass
Landscape with Two Trees (Paysage aux deux Arbres)
Guard House
Salmon Fisher (Le pecheur du saumon)
The Road to Horville
Roman Ruin (Ruine romaine)
Farm in Winter (Une ferme en hiver)
Sunset (Coucher du soleil)
In the Woods
Hill with Bushes (La butte aux brousailles)