Artwork
Storm on the Island of Yeu
Storm on the Island of Yeu is a drawing by Auguste Lepère. It dates from 1916 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Created in 1916 by French artist Auguste Louis Lepère, this drawing captures a turbulent coastal scene on the island of Yeu.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1916 by French artist Auguste Louis Lepère, this drawing captures a turbulent coastal scene on the island of Yeu. Though primarily known for his work in wood engraving, Lepère here employed a more expressive, painterly approach. The piece resides in the collection of The Cleveland Museum of Art, reflecting his engagement with landscape beyond printmaking.
Subject & Meaning
The scene depicts a rugged shoreline battered by a violent storm. Dark, fractured cliffs rise from churning seas, while spray explodes into the air. The pale sky contrasts with the gray, agitated water, emphasizing nature’s force. No human presence is visible, reinforcing the isolation and raw power of the environment, suggesting a meditation on elemental indifference.
Technique & Style
Lepère used thick, layered brushwork to convey the energy of the storm. Paint is applied in heavy impasto, particularly in the crashing waves and rocky outcrops, creating texture and movement. The brushstrokes are rapid and unrefined, avoiding smooth transitions. This physicality in the medium mirrors the turbulence of the subject, prioritizing emotional intensity over detail.
History & Provenance
The work was produced late in Lepère’s career, during a period when he was increasingly focused on landscape studies. It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection through documented acquisition, though its immediate provenance prior to museum ownership remains unrecorded in public sources. Its survival as a drawing distinguishes it from his more widely known prints.
Context
In 1916, Europe was engulfed in war, and many artists turned to nature as a refuge or mirror of chaos. Lepère, though not a war artist, engaged with the sublime in landscape, a tradition rooted in Romanticism. His focus on Yeu—a small, windswept island off France’s Atlantic coast—aligns with regional interests in maritime hardship and natural resilience.
Legacy
While Lepère is chiefly remembered for revitalizing wood engraving, this drawing reveals a lesser-known facet of his practice: a direct, physical response to nature. It stands as a testament to his versatility and underscores how artists of his generation explored emotional expression through medium and gesture, even outside their primary disciplines.
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.
