Artwork
Farm on the Hillside (La ferme sur le coteau)
Farm on the Hillside (La ferme sur le coteau) 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
Farm on the Hillside (La ferme sur le coteau), created by Alphonse Legros in 1874, is an etching and drypoint print. The work showcases a serene rural landscape with a farm on a hillside, characterized by meticulous etched lines and nuanced tonal contrasts.
Subject & Meaning
The print captures a tranquil hillside farm scene, featuring a lone grazing sheep, tall trees, and bushes. The composition conveys a sense of quiet, natural beauty, with expressive lines and shading techniques evoking a vivid sense of texture and depth.
Technique & Style
Legros employed etching and drypoint to achieve sharp, textured lines and rich tonal variations in black and white. The sheep's wool, rendered in quick, expressive strokes, exemplifies the tactile quality often associated with etching, where metal plates are scratched to create detailed designs.
History & Provenance
Created in 1874 by French-born, British-naturalized artist Alphonse Legros, this print reflects his role in the British etching revival. Legros, active in painting, sculpture, and printmaking, taught etching in Britain after his 1863 relocation.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Alphonse Legros (French pronunciation: ; 8 May 1837 – 8 December 1911) was a French, later British, painter, etcher, sculptor, and medallist.
The Farm on the Hill
Farm on a Hill (La ferme sur la colline)
Farm on a Hillside in Sunlight (La ferme du coteau; Effet de soleil sur le coteau)
Farm on a Hillside in Sunlight (La ferme du coteau; Effet de soleil sur le coteau)
View of a Farm, 2nd plate (La ferme du Bienheureux)
Farm (Une ferme)
Return to the Farm (Le retour a la ferme)
My Farm (Ma ferme)