Artwork

The Triumph of Death: The Proclamation

The Triumph of Death:  The Proclamation, by Alphonse Legros, 1880
The Triumph of Death:  The Proclamation, by Alphonse Legros, 1880

The Triumph of Death: The Proclamation is a print by the Impressionist artist Alphonse Legros. It dates from 1880 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

The Triumph of Death: The Proclamation is a print by Alphonse Legros, dated to around 1880, and is part of the collection at The Cleveland Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a chaotic scene with a crowd in darkness, some wielding flags and weapons, while others fall or stretch out in distress. The title suggests a theme related to mortality or fear, while the image focuses on the turmoil of the moment.

Technique & Style

Legros employed deep shadows and stark contrasts to convey a sense of realism and urgency. The rough lines and messy composition add to the overall feeling of chaos.

Context

This work is associated with the Realist style, which emphasizes depicting life in its true form without idealization.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Alphonse Legros

Artist

Alphonse Legros

Alphonse Legros (French pronunciation: ; 8 May 1837 – 8 December 1911) was a French, later British, painter, etcher, sculptor, and medallist.

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