Artwork
Lost: Souvenir of Auvergne
Lost: Souvenir of Auvergne is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist August Friedrich Schenk. It dates from 1873 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1873, *Lost: Souvenir of Auvergne* is an oil painting that belongs to the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work presents a winter scene populated by a flock of sheep, rendered in muted tones that emphasize the cold and the sense of isolation across a snow‑filled terrain.
Subject & Meaning
The central focus is a group of sheep huddled together, with one animal set apart from the herd. Their postures and upward gazes suggest a collective unease, as if the flock is confronting the harshness of the wintry environment. The sparse background hints at a distant figure, adding an ambiguous narrative element to the scene.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the painting employs a restrained palette of grays and whites, punctuated by darker patches of fur. Subtle contrasts of light and shadow create a chiaroscuro effect that models the animals and the snow, while the loose brushwork aligns the work with the broader Impressionist interest in atmosphere and fleeting conditions.
History & Provenance
German‑French artist August Friedrich Schenck, a pupil of Léon Cogniet, produced the canvas during a period when he was known for animal subjects and rural landscapes. After its creation, the painting entered private hands before being acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains on view.
Context
Schenck’s career unfolded at the intersection of German and French artistic traditions, and his training under Cogniet exposed him to academic techniques that he later adapted to the Impressionist sensibility. The focus on livestock in a stark, natural setting reflects contemporary concerns with the relationship between humanity, agriculture, and the environment.
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Artist & collection
Artist
August Friedrich Albrecht Schenck (23 April 1828 – 1 January 1901) was a painter who was born in Glückstadt in the Duchy of Holstein, which at the time was under Danish control but part of the German Confederation.
