Artwork
Spring Tide, Rocks of Zion (Grande maree, rochers de Sion, Vendee)
Spring Tide, Rocks of Zion (Grande maree, rochers de Sion, Vendee) is an ink print by Auguste Lepère. It dates from 1907 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1907, *Spring Tide, Rocks of Zion* is an etching by French artist Auguste Lepère. The print captures a tempestuous stretch of the Vendée coastline, where jagged rock formations confront a surging sea under a turbulent sky. Lepère’s work is noted for its energetic line work and the impression of a momentary, storm‑laden observation.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a cluster of sharp, irregular rocks that rise from the shore, their surfaces battered by crashing waves. The water is rendered with swirling, smoky strokes that convey motion and force, while the sky above is filled with hurried, sketch‑like marks suggesting an overcast, unsettled atmosphere. The scene evokes the power of nature and the fleeting drama of a spring tide.
Technique & Style
Lepère employed traditional etching methods, incising the design into a copper plate with a needle before exposing it to acid. The resulting lines are deliberately rough and uneven, giving the image a spontaneous, sketch‑like quality. This approach departs from the polished finishes of some prints, emphasizing immediacy and the artist’s hand in rendering the sea’s turbulence.
History & Provenance
Auguste Lepère (1849–1918) was a painter and printmaker who played a key role in reviving wood engraving in Europe, though he also produced a substantial body of etchings. *Spring Tide, Rocks of Zion* was produced during the later phase of his career, reflecting his mature interest in coastal subjects and his mastery of print techniques.
Context
The Vendée region, located on France’s western coast, has long inspired artists with its rugged shoreline and dynamic seas. Lepère’s depiction aligns with a broader turn-of‑the‑century fascination among French printmakers with natural landscapes rendered in a direct, expressive manner, bridging the traditions of academic drawing and emerging modernist sensibilities.
Own this work as a print
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.
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