Artwork
Avions reposant sur le terrain (recto)
Avions reposant sur le terrain (recto) is a drawing by Auguste Lepère. It dates from 1914 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Created in 1914 by French artist Auguste Louis Lepère, this black‑and‑white print depicts four early‑type aircraft resting on an open field.
About this work
This one feels quiet, like he noticed something strange and just recorded it.
This etching shows four airplanes parked on a flat field. The planes look old, more like wooden kites than modern jets. A few trees stand in the background, their tops cut off by the paper’s edge.
Lepère made this in 1914, right when airplanes were new and exciting. He liked prints, not paintings. This one feels quiet, like he noticed something strange and just recorded it.
If you like this, look up another print by Auguste Louis Lepère.
Overview
Created in 1914 by French artist Auguste Louis Lepère, this black‑and‑white print depicts four early‑type aircraft resting on an open field. The composition is framed by the edge of the paper, which cuts off the tops of a few distant trees. The work belongs to the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection and exemplifies Lepère’s interest in documenting contemporary technological scenes through printmaking.
Subject & Meaning
The image records a moment of stillness among nascent machines of flight, presenting the planes as modest, almost kite‑like structures rather than the streamlined forms that would later dominate aviation. By placing the aircraft in a quiet, rural setting, Lepère emphasizes their novelty and the juxtaposition of modern invention against a timeless landscape.
Technique & Style
Executed as an etching, the work showcases Lepère’s precise line work and careful modulation of tone, hallmarks of his revival of wood‑engraving techniques applied to metal plates. The stark contrasts and fine hatching convey texture—wooden frames, fabric coverings—and the atmospheric depth of the field and trees, reflecting his mastery of print media over painting.
History & Provenance
Lepère, active at the turn of the 20th century, produced this piece during a period when aviation captured public imagination. After its creation, the print entered private collections before being acquired by the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains on view as part of the museum’s early‑20th‑century graphic arts holdings.
Context
The year 1914 marked the outbreak of World War I and a rapid acceleration in aircraft development. Lepère’s depiction captures the technology at a transitional stage, prior to its extensive militarization. The work thus offers a visual snapshot of aviation’s early civilian presence, set against the backdrop of a Europe on the brink of conflict.
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.
