Death and the Woodcutter
1881
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1881
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Death and the Woodcutter is a 1881 by Alphonse Legros, a Impressionism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This sketch shows a wooded scene with two figures. One person is lying on the ground, looking up with a surprised or fearful expression. The other is bent over, holding an axe, and seems to be leaning toward the person on the ground. The title calls this an allegory, meaning it likely stands for a bigger idea—maybe about death or hard work. The artist used strong lines and shading to show the figures’ emotions and the rough forest setting. Look up chiaroscuro next to see how this technique creates drama with light and shadow.
