Artwork
The Poacher, Dunes of Saint Jean de Mont
The Poacher, Dunes of Saint Jean de Mont is a print by Auguste Lepère. It dates from 1901 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1901 by French artist Auguste Louis Lepère, *The Poacher, Dunes of Saint‑Jean‑de‑Mont* is a wood‑engraved print held by the Cleveland Museum of Art. The image presents a solitary figure crouched among low vegetation, rifle lowered, against a gently rolling dune landscape under a pale sky.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a man in a hat and coat, positioned as if concealed behind a bush while scanning the horizon. Though equipped with a rifle, his weapon points downward, suggesting a moment of pause rather than active pursuit. The tranquil setting and subdued posture convey a contemplative, perhaps moral, reflection on the act of poaching.
Technique & Style
Lepère employed traditional wood‑engraving methods, rendering the scene with fine line work and a restrained palette of muted tones. Soft, overlapping strokes create atmospheric depth, while meticulous attention to the texture of foliage and clothing gives the print a tactile quality. The overall effect is one of calm realism, characteristic of Lepère’s revival of the medium.
History & Provenance
The print entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection in the early 20th century, though the exact acquisition date is not recorded in the provided material. Lepère’s reputation as a leading figure in the European wood‑engraving revival contributed to the work’s inclusion in the museum’s holdings of early modern prints.
Context
At the turn of the century, Lepère’s work reflected a broader interest in rural life and traditional occupations, aligning with contemporary genre scenes that explored everyday labor. The depiction of a poacher, set within the dunes of Saint‑Jean‑de‑Mont, situates the image within a specific French coastal environment, adding geographic specificity to the universal theme of human interaction with nature.
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.
