Artwork
Under the Bridge of Bercy (Sous le pont de Bercy)
Under the Bridge of Bercy (Sous le pont de Bercy) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Auguste Lepère. It dates from 1894 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1894, *Under the Bridge of Bercy* is a print by French artist Auguste Lepère. Executed in a combination of etching and aquatint, the work captures a bustling riverside scene beneath a Parisian bridge. Lepère, noted for his role in the 19th‑century revival of wood engraving, applied his expertise in line and tone to render a vivid snapshot of urban life.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a horse‑drawn carriage mired in mud beneath the bridge, its wheels half‑submerged in water. Bystanders gather, some grasping poles or ropes in an effort to free the vehicle, while the riverbank is lined with trees and low buildings. The scene conveys the everyday challenges of transportation and the communal response to mishap in late‑19th‑century Paris.
Technique & Style
Lepère employed fine, incised lines to delineate the horse’s musculature and the texture of the mud, while aquatint washes create atmospheric water ripples and shadowed areas beneath the heavy, dark bridge. The contrast between crisp linear detail and soft tonal fields produces a sense of depth, emphasizing both the physical weight of the structure above and the precariousness below.
History & Provenance
First exhibited shortly after its completion, the print entered the market through French print dealers who specialized in contemporary etchings. It later appeared in several early 20th‑century catalogues of Lepère’s work and is now held in the collections of a number of European museums, reflecting its continued relevance to studies of urban printmaking.
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.
