Artwork

Woodcutters, 3rd plate (Les bucherons)

Woodcutters, 3rd plate (Les bucherons), by Alphonse Legros, ink, 1874
Woodcutters, 3rd plate (Les bucherons), by Alphonse Legros, ink, 1874

Woodcutters, 3rd plate (Les bucherons) 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

Woodcutters, 3rd plate (Les bucherons) is an etching created by Alphonse Legros in 1874. The print is executed in dark brown ink and depicts laborers in a forest.

Subject & Meaning

The scene shows two men struggling amidst thick, tangled trees. One man lies on the ground, grasping a fallen trunk, while the other leans on a pole, gesturing upward. The men's exhaustion and the rough wood texture are conveyed through fine lines.

Technique & Style

Legros employed a graphic, linear style characteristic of his etched works. The dark ink adds depth and drama to the scene, while fine lines capture the men's fatigue and the wood's texture.

History & Provenance

Alphonse Legros, a French-born artist who became a British citizen, created this etching in 1874. He played a significant role in reviving etching in Britain through his teaching.

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.