Artwork
Snowball Fight: Quai aux Fleurs
Snowball Fight: Quai aux Fleurs is a print by the Impressionist artist Auguste Lepère. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
The title *Snowball Fight* hints this is a lively, everyday moment—maybe a holiday or just winter fun.
This drawing shows a snowy street scene packed with people. Kids are throwing snowballs while adults shovel snow or watch. Horses pull carts, and one wagon is tipped over. The background has buildings and a river, all sketched in quick, scratchy lines.
The title *Snowball Fight* hints this is a lively, everyday moment—maybe a holiday or just winter fun. The artist used loose, sketchy strokes to capture movement and energy.
Next, check out Auguste Louis Lepère (French, 1849–1918) for more of his playful city scenes.
Overview
Created in 1890 by French artist Auguste‑Louis Lepère, *Snowball Fight: Quai aux Fleurs* is a print that captures a bustling winter moment on a Parisian quay. The composition presents a crowded street where children hurl snowballs, adults clear snow, and horse‑drawn carts navigate the icy thoroughfare, all set against the backdrop of river‑front buildings.
Subject & Meaning
The image records an everyday urban leisure activity, emphasizing the spontaneity of winter play amid the routine of city life. By focusing on ordinary figures—youths engaged in a snowball skirmish, passersby watching or shoveling—the work highlights the coexistence of work and recreation in late‑19th‑century Paris.
Technique & Style
Lepère employed a loose, sketch‑like line that conveys motion and immediacy, characteristic of his wood‑engraving revival. The print’s scratchy strokes and varied tonal contrasts render the cold atmosphere while preserving the vitality of the scene, demonstrating his experimental approach to printmaking during this period.
History & Provenance
Executed during a phase when Lepère was actively redefining French printmaking, the piece reflects his broader interest in contemporary urban subjects. Though specific ownership records are limited, the work has been catalogued among Lepère’s winter cityscapes and is frequently cited in studies of his contribution to modern print techniques.
Context
The late 1800s saw Paris undergoing rapid modernization, and artists increasingly turned to the city’s daily rhythms for inspiration. Lepère’s focus on a popular quay aligns with this trend, situating the print within a larger movement that sought to document modern life through accessible, reproducible media.
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.
