Artwork
Meadow in Sunshine (Le pre ensoleille)
Meadow in Sunshine (Le pre ensoleille) 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 produced the print *Meadow in Sunshine* (Le pré ensoleillé) in 1874. Executed with drypoint and etching, the work presents a tranquil rural scene illuminated by daylight. The composition balances foreground meadow, distant trees and a luminous sky, using line and tonal variation to convey atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The image portrays an open meadow bathed in warm sunlight, with a line of trees receding into the background. Light falls across the grass, creating subtle shifts of tone that suggest a quiet moment in nature. The work invites contemplation of the interplay between light, land and foliage.
Technique & Style
Legros employed both drypoint, which yields rich, velvety lines, and traditional etching, allowing for finer tonal gradations. The combination produces a textured surface where the meadow’s surface and the trees’ foliage are rendered with differing degrees of line density, enhancing depth and the impression of sun‑lit atmosphere.
History & Provenance
Born in France, Legros moved to London in 1863 and later naturalised as a British citizen. By the 1870s he was teaching at the Royal Academy, where he helped revive interest in etching among British artists. *Meadow in Sunshine* reflects his dual heritage and his role in promoting printmaking techniques during that period.
Artist & collection
Artist
Alphonse Legros (French pronunciation: ; 8 May 1837 – 8 December 1911) was a French, later British, painter, etcher, sculptor, and medallist.
