Artwork

Sunrise, Woods of Clamard (Lever du soleil, bois de Clamard)

Sunrise, Woods of Clamard (Lever du soleil, bois de Clamard), by Alphonse Legros, ink, 1874
Sunrise, Woods of Clamard (Lever du soleil, bois de Clamard), by Alphonse Legros, ink, 1874

Sunrise, Woods of Clamard (Lever du soleil, bois de Clamard) 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

Sunrise, Woods of Clamard (1874) is a drypoint print by Alphonse Legros, a French-born artist who later worked in Britain. The piece captures a serene forest landscape at dawn.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a wooded scene bathed in early morning light, with dark trees set against the warm glow of sunrise, evoking a sense of peacefulness.

Technique & Style

Legros employed drypoint to create the work, scratching the design into a plate. This technique achieved a sense of depth and texture, enhancing the overall somber yet illuminated mood of the forest.

History & Provenance

Created in 1874, the print reflects Legros' contribution to the British etching revival, a movement he influenced after his relocation to London in 1863.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Alphonse Legros

Artist

Alphonse Legros

Alphonse Legros (French pronunciation: ; 8 May 1837 – 8 December 1911) was a French, later British, painter, etcher, sculptor, and medallist.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.