1885
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Liberty Enlightening the World, Offered to the City of Paris by the Americans is a 1885 by Auguste Lepère, a Impressionism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This print shows a smaller Statue of Liberty standing on a tiny island in the Seine River, right in the middle of Paris. It’s not the famous New York statue—this one was a gift from Americans to France in 1889. The artist carved it in wood, giving the scene a rough, handmade feel. Both countries share this symbol, but here it looks almost like a quiet neighbor, not a towering landmark. If you like this, look up other works about *France, 19th century*.
Although this statue may be recognizable, the scene is not set in New York. Hundreds of smaller versions of the Statue of Liberty reside around the world, including the one depicted in this print, which is located in Paris. Both the United States and France see the statue as a symbol of freedom, and Americans gave one as a gift to Parisians during the 19th century.
This print was published in the popular journal Le Monde Illustré on May 30, 1885.
Read the full account in the museum source.
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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