Artwork
Convalescent (Le convalescent)
Convalescent (Le convalescent) is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Alphonse Legros. It dates from 1874 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Convalescent (Le convalescent), created in 1874 by Alphonse Legros, is a print that combines drypoint and etching techniques to capture a contemplative scene.
Subject & Meaning
The print portrays a frail, seated man in repose, his gaunt face and sunken eyes conveying a sense of vulnerability and recovery, evoking a moment of quiet introspection.
Technique & Style
Legros employed drypoint and etching to achieve a striking chiaroscuro effect, contrasting the subject's pale skin against a dark background, thereby enhancing depth and emphasizing the man's features.
History & Provenance
Produced during Legros' established career in Britain, where he had settled in 1863 and later naturalized, *Convalescent* reflects his role in the British etching revival through his artistic practice and teaching.
Artist & collection
Artist
Alphonse Legros (French pronunciation: ; 8 May 1837 – 8 December 1911) was a French, later British, painter, etcher, sculptor, and medallist.
