Who painted Salmon Fisher (Le pecheur du saumon)?

Salmon Fisher (Le pecheur du saumon) was painted by Alphonse Legros in 1874.

Where can I see Salmon Fisher (Le pecheur du saumon)?

Salmon Fisher (Le pecheur du saumon) is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Salmon Fisher (Le pecheur du saumon)?

Salmon Fisher (Le pecheur du saumon) is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of Salmon Fisher (Le pecheur du saumon)?

Museum-quality prints of Salmon Fisher (Le pecheur du saumon) are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Salmon Fisher (Le pecheur du saumon)

Alphonse Legros , 1874

Salmon Fisher (Le pecheur du saumon) 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‑born artist who settled in London in 1863 and later naturalised as a British citizen, produced the etching *Salmon Fisher* in 1874. Executed as a single‑plate print, the work shows a lone figure engaged in the act of catching salmon, set against a stark, open landscape.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centres on a fisherman poised with his line, suggesting a moment of concentration and the quiet patience required by the sport. The bare, windswept setting emphasizes the solitary nature of the activity, inviting contemplation of humanity’s relationship with nature and the rhythms of rural labour.

Technique & Style

Legros employed traditional intaglio methods, drawing directly onto a copper plate with a fine needle before immersing it in acid to bite the lines. The resulting dark, crisp strokes convey texture in the tree, ground and water, while the limited tonal range creates a restrained, atmospheric effect typical of mid‑nineteenth‑century British etching.

History & Provenance

Created during Legros’s early years as a teacher at the Royal Academy Schools, the print reflects his commitment to reviving the etching medium in Britain. It entered private collections shortly after its issuance and has since appeared in several exhibitions of 19th‑century British prints, confirming its continued relevance to the study of the period.

Context

Legros’s career spanned painting, sculpture and printmaking, and his instructional work helped re‑establish etching as a respected art form in Victorian England. *Salmon Fisher* exemplifies his pedagogical approach, combining rigorous draftsmanship with a modest, observational subject drawn from everyday life.