Artwork
Retour du Marché de St. Jean-de-Mont

Retour du Marché de St. Jean-de-Mont is a print by Auguste Lepère. It dates from 1910 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Auguste Louis Lepère’s 1910 print *Retour du Marché de St.
About this work
Overview
Auguste Louis Lepère’s 1910 print *Retour du Marché de St. Jean-de‑Mont* captures a tranquil riverside village scene. Rendered in ink on paper, the composition presents a modest group of figures moving along a path, a cart laden with baskets, and a line of low houses beneath a flat sky, all framed by tall, contorted trees.
Subject & Meaning
The image portrays everyday life in a provincial market setting, emphasizing the rhythm of ordinary activity. The figures, though few, suggest a communal return from trade, while the wind‑touched trees and calm water convey a sense of quiet continuity within the rural landscape.
Technique & Style
Lepère employs swift, expressive lines characteristic of his wood‑engraving revival, allowing the ink to suggest motion rather than delineate precise detail. The sketch‑like quality of the drawing, with its gestural strokes and minimal shading, creates a feeling of immediacy, as if the scene were captured in a fleeting observation.
History & Provenance
Created in 1910, the print is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Lepère, a leading figure in early twentieth‑century French printmaking, produced the work during a period when he was actively promoting the resurgence of wood engraving across Europe.
Context
The piece reflects broader artistic interests of the era in documenting rural life and the effects of industrialization on small communities. Lepère’s focus on ordinary subjects aligns with contemporary movements that valued authenticity and the depiction of everyday French scenery.
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.



















