Artwork
Paris Almanac, 1897: Summer
Paris Almanac, 1897: Summer is a print by the Impressionist artist Auguste Lepère. It dates from 1897 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1897 by French artist Auguste Louis Lepère, this wood‑engraved print titled *Paris Almanac, 1897: Summer* is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection. The image captures a quiet moment in an urban setting, rendered in the crisp lines characteristic of late‑nineteenth‑century engraving.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a woman seated at a wrought‑iron table, turning thread on a wooden spindle. She is dressed in a broad, feather‑adorned hat, a white blouse, and a dark shawl, her expression serene despite the visible wear on her hands. The surrounding cityscape, with tall buildings and a church steeple beneath a vivid red‑orange sky, frames her solitary labor.
Technique & Style
Lepère employed wood engraving, a medium he helped revive across Europe, to achieve fine, linear detail. The contrast between the delicate rendering of the woman’s attire and the bustling, densely packed background demonstrates his skill in balancing intimate portraiture with broader urban narrative.
History & Provenance
First published as part of the *Paris Almanac* series in 1897, the print later entered the holdings of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains accessible to scholars and the public. Its inclusion in the almanac reflects the period’s interest in documenting everyday life through print media.
Context
The work aligns with the Realist tradition that sought to depict ordinary laborers and city scenes without romanticization. Lepère’s focus on a domestic task set against a modern Parisian backdrop illustrates the era’s fascination with the intersection of industrial progress and traditional crafts.
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.
