Artwork
Gathering of May-lily (La cueillette du muguet)
Gathering of May-lily (La cueillette du muguet) is an ink print by Auguste Lepère. It dates from 1908 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Louis‑Augustin Lepère’s 1908 wood engraving, titled *Gathering of May‑lily* (French: La cueillette du muguet), portrays a quiet woodland activity.
Louis‑Augustin Lepère’s 1908 wood engraving, titled *Gathering of May‑lily* (French: La cueillette du muguet), portrays a quiet woodland activity. The print captures two figures amid dense foliage: one upright, clutching a bundle of sticks, the other crouched, plucking lily‑of‑the‑valley blossoms from the forest floor. The composition balances human presence with the surrounding trees, creating a scene of seasonal labor.
Subject & Meaning
The image illustrates a traditional springtime practice of collecting lily‑of‑the‑valley, a custom linked to French cultural celebrations of May. By focusing on ordinary laborers rather than idealized figures, Lepère emphasizes the intimate relationship between people and their natural environment, suggesting a reverence for the modest rituals that mark the change of season.
Technique & Style
Executed as a wood engraving, the design was incised into a fine-grained wood block, allowing Lepère to render intricate line work. He employed a dense network of thin strokes to model light and shadow, producing a richly textured surface that conveys depth within the forest canopy. The precision of the engraving highlights his mastery of the medium during its early‑20th‑century revival.
History & Provenance
Lepère, a French painter and printmaker, played a pivotal role in the resurgence of wood engraving across Europe at the turn of the century. This 1908 print reflects his sustained interest in exploring traditional print techniques alongside newer artistic movements. It remains a representative example of his contribution to the medium’s modern reinvention.
Artist & collection
Artist
Louis-Auguste Lepère (30 November 1849 – 20 November 1918) was a French painter and etcher. Lepère is also considered a leader in the creative revival of wood engraving in Europe.
Path Through the Grain Field
Au Rocher Bernard
Return from the Woods (Le retour du bois)
Fishing for Crayfish (Les pecheurs d'ecrevisses)
Woodcutters, 3rd plate (Les bucherons)
Fisherman with a Hoop-net (La peche a la truble)
Return from the Woods
Little Wandering Jew (Le petit juif errant)
The Morning of Life
The Tinker (Le retameur)
The Cooper (Le tonnelier)
Cueillette du muguet