Artwork
Around the Lamp
Around the Lamp is a print by the Impressionist artist Auguste Lepère. It dates from 1891 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1891 by French artist Auguste Louis Lepère, *Around the Lamp* is a print that captures a modest interior scene bathed in the glow of a single lamp. The composition centers on two figures seated at a small table, one reading from an open book while the other leans in, suggesting a quiet, shared moment.
Subject & Meaning
The work portrays an intimate domestic setting, emphasizing the simple act of reading together. Scattered objects—a bottle, an inkwell, and a lamp with a dark shade—anchor the scene in everyday life, while the subdued lighting creates a gentle, contemplative atmosphere that invites the viewer into the private space.
Technique & Style
Lepère employed the wood‑engraving revival techniques he championed, using swift, loose lines to suggest movement and texture. The contrast of light and shadow is rendered through delicate hatching, giving the print a soft, atmospheric quality that aligns with the broader turn toward spontaneity in late‑19th‑century printmaking.
History & Provenance
*Around the Lamp* emerged during a period of renewed interest in printmaking across Europe, a movement in which Lepère played a leading role. The piece reflects his dedication to revitalizing wood engraving as a fine‑art medium, and it remains a representative example of his contributions to the medium’s late‑Victorian resurgence.
Artist & collection
Artist
Louis-Auguste Lepère (30 November 1849 – 20 November 1918) was a French painter and etcher. Lepère is also considered a leader in the creative revival of wood engraving in Europe.
