Artwork
Le marchand de lait
Le marchand de lait is a print by the Impressionist artist Auguste Lepère. It dates from 1894 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Created in 1894 by French artist Auguste‑Louis Lepère, this wood‑engraved print depicts a rural figure engaged in milking a cow.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1894 by French artist Auguste‑Louis Lepère, this wood‑engraved print depicts a rural figure engaged in milking a cow. The composition places the laborer in a field before a modest village and a winding river, rendered with brisk, sketch‑like lines that convey immediacy. The work is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure, a man wearing a hat and apron, holds a pail beneath a cow’s udder, suggesting his role as a milk seller—reflected in the title *Le marchand de lait*. The scene captures a moment of everyday agricultural labor, emphasizing the ordinary rhythms of rural life.
Technique & Style
Lepère employed wood engraving, a medium he helped revive across Europe, using loose, expressive strokes that give the image a spontaneous, almost photographic quality. The contrast between the dark silhouette of the cow and the lighter, sketchy background highlights the artist’s skill in rendering texture and depth within a limited tonal range.
History & Provenance
After its creation, the print entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains on view. Lepère’s reputation as a leading figure in the late‑19th‑century print revival contributed to the work’s acquisition by the museum, reflecting its significance within the institution’s holdings of French graphic art.
Context
Produced during a period when Realist artists turned their attention to the lives of workers and peasants, the print aligns with contemporary interests in documenting contemporary social conditions. Lepère’s focus on a solitary milk seller mirrors broader artistic concerns with authenticity and the dignity of labor in the late nineteenth century.
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.
