Artwork
Peasant Woman Seated near a Hedge (Paysanne assise pres d'une haie)
Peasant Woman Seated near a Hedge (Paysanne assise pres d'une haie) 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
Peasant Woman Seated near a Hedge is a print created by Alphonse Legros in 1874 using etching and drypoint techniques.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a rural woman seated on the ground beside a hedge, her body hunched and head bowed, surrounded by tall grass, bushes, and thin trees.
Technique & Style
Legros employed intaglio techniques to achieve a rough, scratchy style that emphasizes texture, with the background rendered in quick, sketchy lines that resemble scribbles.
History & Provenance
Alphonse Legros, a French-born artist who became a British citizen, created this work after settling in London in 1863, where he played a significant role in reviving etching through his teaching.
Artist & collection
Artist
Alphonse Legros (French pronunciation: ; 8 May 1837 – 8 December 1911) was a French, later British, painter, etcher, sculptor, and medallist.
