Poultry Market at St.-Jean-de-Mont (Marche a la volaille, a St.-Jean-de-Mont)

Lepère employed the intaglio processes of etching, aquatint and drypoint, allowing for both fine line work and rich tonal areas. The quick, sketch‑like strokes convey movement and crowd density, while the aquatint provides subtle gradations of shadow that give depth to the street and market stalls. Drypoint adds delicate, velvety lines to the figures’ outlines.

The print was produced during Lepère’s mature period, when he was instrumental in reviving wood engraving and expanding the possibilities of printmaking in France. Although specific ownership records are limited, the work has appeared in several late‑19th‑century print collections and is now held by institutions that document French graphic art of the era.

At the turn of the 1890s, French artists increasingly turned to scenes of everyday life, reflecting broader realist and naturalist trends. Lepère’s focus on a provincial market aligns with this interest in the quotidian, while his technical experimentation mirrors the period’s fascination with the expressive potential of print media.