Who painted Desperate Young Girl (La jeune desesperee)?

Desperate Young Girl (La jeune desesperee) was painted by Alphonse Legros in 1874.

Where can I see Desperate Young Girl (La jeune desesperee)?

Desperate Young Girl (La jeune desesperee) is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Desperate Young Girl (La jeune desesperee)?

Desperate Young Girl (La jeune desesperee) is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Desperate Young Girl (La jeune desesperee)

Alphonse Legros , 1874

Desperate Young Girl (La jeune desesperee) 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. Created in 1874, *Desperate Young Girl* (La jeune désespérée) is a print that combines etching with drypoint.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1874, *Desperate Young Girl* (La jeune désespérée) is a print that combines etching with drypoint. The work presents a solitary female figure whose posture and expression convey acute distress, set against a stark landscape of bare trees and uneven ground. The composition’s starkness and the figure’s gesture dominate the visual field, emphasizing a moment of personal crisis.

Subject & Meaning

The image portrays a young woman bent over, her head cradled in her hands, suggesting a state of desperation or deep sorrow. The tangled rendering of her hair and clothing, along with the jagged branches behind her, intensifies the sense of emotional turbulence, inviting viewers to contemplate themes of isolation and inner turmoil.

Technique & Style

Legros employed both traditional etching and the more immediate drypoint method, allowing for sharply defined, scratch‑like lines that generate a textured, urgent surface. The rough, uneven strokes give the print a visceral quality, aligning it with the 19th‑century movement that favored heightened emotion and dramatic expression in graphic art.

History & Provenance

Born in France, Alphonse Legros relocated to London in 1863, where he became instrumental in the revival of British etching. This print, produced shortly after his settlement, exemplifies his contribution to the medium’s resurgence. It remains a representative example of his printmaking output during the period when he was actively shaping the British etching scene.