Artwork
Petit bras de Seine au Pont Neuf
Petit bras de Seine au Pont Neuf is a print 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
Created in 1888 by French painter and etcher Auguste Louis Lepère, *Petit bras de Seine au Pont Neuf* is a wood‑engraved print that captures a fleeting moment along the Seine. The image is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection and exemplifies Lepère’s interest in everyday urban scenes.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a solitary figure leaning against a stone balustrade, gazing across the river toward the Pont Neuf. Behind him the bridge’s three arches span the water, while distant buildings and foliage suggest the bustling yet intimate atmosphere of late‑19th‑century Paris.
Technique & Style
Lepère employed loose, rapid lines characteristic of his wood‑engraving revival, giving the print a sketch‑like, unfinished quality. The handling of line and tone conveys movement and light without detailed modeling, aligning the work with the broader Impressionist concern for transient visual effects.
History & Provenance
Since its creation, the print has remained in private and institutional hands before entering the Cleveland Museum of Art. Its presence in the museum reflects the institution’s commitment to representing European printmaking and the resurgence of wood engraving during the late 1800s.
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.
