Artwork
Remembrance of a Valley in Bourgogne (Souvenir d'une vallee en Bourgogne)
Remembrance of a Valley in Bourgogne (Souvenir d'une vallee en Bourgogne) 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
Created in 1874, *Remembrance of a Valley in Bourgogne* is an intaglio print that captures a tranquil rural moment in the artist’s native Burgundy. Executed with both etching and dry‑point, the work presents a modest landscape populated by two figures engaged in simple labor, set against rolling hills, a meandering river and distant structures.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a lone figure seated beneath a tree, bent over an unseen task, while a second individual stands nearby, bearing a load on the back. This quiet interaction suggests everyday rural life, emphasizing a nostalgic connection to the countryside and the artist’s personal memories of the region.
Technique & Style
Legros combined the precise incisions of etching with the softer, burr‑rich lines of dry‑point to render textures such as grass, water ripples and the folds of clothing. The overall effect is sketch‑like and spontaneous, conveying immediacy rather than a highly finished tableau, a hallmark of his approach to printmaking.
History & Provenance
Born in France, Legros moved to London in 1863 and later naturalised as a British citizen, becoming a pivotal figure in the late‑19th‑century revival of British etching. This print, produced during his London period, reflects his ongoing interest in French landscapes while contributing to the broader resurgence of intaglio techniques in the United Kingdom.
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.
