Artwork
Return to the Farm (Le retour a la ferme)
Return to the Farm (Le retour a la ferme) 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 the etching 'Return to the Farm' in 1874. It is a representative work of his diverse practice, which spanned painting, sculpture, and medallic art.
Subject & Meaning
The etching depicts a serene farm scene with three figures in simple attire. They appear weary yet tranquil, suggesting a return home after a day's toil. A dense forest and a distant village along a river form the backdrop, evoking a sense of rural tranquility.
Technique & Style
Legros employed fine lines to capture the interplay of light and shadow, lending a three-dimensional quality to the trees. The use of varying line weights and densities creates depth and texture, characteristic of etching as a medium.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Alphonse Legros (French pronunciation: ; 8 May 1837 – 8 December 1911) was a French, later British, painter, etcher, sculptor, and medallist.
Little Burner of Grass (Le petit bruleur d'herbe)
Solitude (Solitude (Paysage))
Remembrance of a Valley in Bourgogne (Souvenir d'une vallee en Bourgogne)
Little Burner of Grass (Le petit bruleur d'herbe)
Solitude (Solitude (Paysage))
Hamlet near the Lake (Le hameau pres du lac)
Valley in Bourgogne (Une vallee en Bourgogne)
Footbridge (La passerelle)
Valley in Bourgogne (Une vallee en Bourgogne)
Wash-house, called "The Washerwomen" (Le lavoir, dite "Les Laveuses")