Artwork
Marchande de Serpents
Marchande de Serpents is a print by the Impressionist artist Auguste Lepère. It dates from 1889 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Marchande de Serpents is a print created by French artist Louis-Auguste Lepère in 1889, now part of The Cleveland Museum of Art's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a weary woman seated on a stool, casually holding a snake coiled around her arm, with attire suggesting a humble or everyday occupation. Her tired expression and the snake's implied movement convey a sense of realism.
Technique & Style
Characterized by dark, textured rendering and heavy shading, the work reflects late 19th-century French artistic tendencies, emphasizing realism through detailed, lifelike portrayal of the subject's facial expression and the snake's pose.
History & Provenance
Created in 1889 by Louis-Auguste Lepère, a key figure in advancing European wood engraving, the print is currently held in the collection of The Cleveland Museum of Art.
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.
