Artwork

The Twisted Tree

The Twisted Tree, by Auguste Lepère, 1915
The Twisted Tree, by Auguste Lepère, 1915

The Twisted Tree is a print by Auguste Lepère. It dates from 1915 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

The Twisted Tree is a landscape painting by Auguste Louis Lepère.
The artist created this work in 1915, a time when many artists were experimenting with different styles. This period in art history is interesting because it shows how artists like Lepère were pushing boundaries.
You can learn more about this style of painting by looking into the technique of sfumato.

Overview

Created in 1915 by French artist Auguste Louis Lepère, *The Twisted Tree* is a wood‑engraved print that presents a solitary, gnarled tree against a muted landscape. The composition is dominated by the tree’s twisted trunk, rendered in crisp, intersecting lines that emphasize its contorted form and the subtle gradations of light and shadow.

Technique & Style

Lepère employed traditional wood‑engraving methods, carving fine details into a block of wood before printing onto paper. The work showcases his characteristic precision: clean, controlled lines and a restrained tonal range that convey texture without reliance on heavy shading, reflecting the revival of historic print techniques in the early twentieth century.

History & Provenance

The print entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains accessible to the public. Lepère’s dedication to graphic arts placed him among the key figures who reinvigorated wood engraving across Europe during the late 1800s and early 1900s, and *The Twisted Tree* exemplifies his contribution to that movement.

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.