Artwork

Retour du Marché de St. Jean-de-Mont

Retour du Marché de St. Jean-de-Mont, by Auguste Lepère, 1910
Retour du Marché de St. Jean-de-Mont, by Auguste Lepère, 1910

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

Portrait of Auguste Lepère

Artist

Auguste Lepère

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.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.