Artwork
Une Guinguette
Une Guinguette is a print by the Impressionist artist Auguste Lepère. It dates from 1886 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Une Guinguette, a wood engraving by Auguste Louis Lepère from 1886, captures a vibrant outdoor gathering at a French tavern or café. Characterized by quick, expressive lines, the piece conveys a sense of lively realism tinged with dreaminess.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a bustling guinguette, a type of French café offering entertainment, where patrons engage in conversation and leisure. A visible sign advertises beverages, emphasizing the setting's purpose as a social hub.
Technique & Style
Lepère employed rapid, sketchy lines to evoke immediacy, blending realism with a softer, somewhat ethereal quality. This approach aligns with the expressive tendencies of late 19th-century European printmaking.
History & Provenance
Created in 1886 by Auguste Louis Lepère, a key figure in the European wood engraving revival, Une Guinguette is now part of The Cleveland Museum of Art's collection.
Context
While the piece shares some atmospheric qualities with Impressionist works, its medium and style reflect Lepère's contribution to the resurgence of wood engraving, a technique distinct from the oil painting dominant in Impressionism.
Legacy
As part of Lepère's oeuvre, Une Guinguette contributes to the understanding of late 19th-century printmaking innovations and the enduring appeal of everyday life themes in art.
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.
