Artwork

Young Peasant Seated in a Church (Jeune paysanne assise dans une eglise)

Young Peasant Seated in a Church (Jeune paysanne assise dans une eglise) 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, *Young Peasant Seated in a Church* is a black‑and‑white print that shows a modestly dressed rural woman perched on a plain chair inside a church interior. She is depicted with her hands folded in her lap, her head covered, and the surrounding space suggested only by faint, sketch‑like forms that hint at pews or altar furnishings.

Technique & Style

The image combines etching with drypoint, allowing Legros to produce both delicate, incised lines and the richer, burr‑laden marks characteristic of drypoint. Dense cross‑hatching builds tonal depth, while the irregular, scratched edges give the figure a slightly rough, immediate quality, recalling a pencil sketch rather than a polished engraving.

History & Provenance

Alphonse Legros, born in France and naturalised as a British citizen after moving to London in 1863, was instrumental in the 19th‑century revival of British etching. His teaching at the Royal Academy helped spread the medium, and this 1874 print exemplifies his contribution to the period’s renewed interest in printmaking techniques.