Artwork
Job, 1st plate
Job, 1st plate 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
Alphonse Legros, a French artist who later worked in Britain, created 'Job, 1st plate' in 1874. The work is an etching and drypoint print, showcasing Legros's expertise in intaglio techniques.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a seated, bare-chested man wrapped in a cloth, resting against a simple backdrop of crates and a fence. The figure's worn muscles and tired posture convey a sense of exhaustion or suffering.
Technique & Style
Legros employed fine lines to capture the texture of the subject's cloth and the detail of the surrounding objects. The use of etching and drypoint allowed for a range of tonal values and precise rendering of the scene.
History & Provenance
Legros moved to London in 1863, where he contributed to a revival of etching in Britain. 'Job, 1st plate' reflects his ongoing experimentation with intaglio techniques and engagement with figurative subjects.
Artist & collection
Artist
Alphonse Legros (French pronunciation: ; 8 May 1837 – 8 December 1911) was a French, later British, painter, etcher, sculptor, and medallist.
Desperate Man (Le desespere)
The Prodigal Son, 3rd plate (L'enfant prodigue)
The Prodigal Son (3rd Plate)
Seated Beggar (Mendiant assis)
Desperate Man (Le desespere)
Victim of a Fire (Victime d'un incendie)
The Prodigal Son, 3rd plate (L'enfant prodigue)
Beggar with Crutches
The Good Samaritan (Le bon samaritain)