Artwork
Around the Lamp
Around the Lamp is a drawing by the Impressionist artist Auguste Lepère. It dates from 1888 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Around the Lamp, created by Auguste Louis Lepère in 1888, is a drawing that exemplifies the artist's exploration of printmaking techniques during a period marked by his revival of wood engraving in Europe.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing portrays an intimate domestic scene featuring two individuals seated at a table, one engrossed in reading and the other in a relaxed posture, with a lamp as the central focal point, evoking a sense of quiet, everyday life.
Technique & Style
Characterized by quick, sketchy lines and loose renderings of facial and hand details, the work emphasizes capturing the moment over meticulous detail, contributing to a warm, atmospheric ambiance.
History & Provenance
Created in 1888, the piece reflects Lepère's active engagement with innovative printmaking techniques of the time, though specific provenance details are not provided.
Context
While differing in medium, the emphasis on light and rapid execution in *Around the Lamp* shares a thematic kinship with contemporaneous Impressionist movements, which similarly valued capturing fleeting moments and effects of light.
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.
