Artwork
Marchande de Serpents
Marchande de Serpents is a print by the Impressionist artist Auguste Louis Lepère. It dates from 1889 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1921.1392
- Credit line
- Gift of Leonard C. Hanna Jr.
About this work
Overview
Marchande de Serpents is a print created by French artist Louis-Auguste Lepère in 1889, now part of The Cleveland Museum of Art's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a weary woman seated on a stool, casually holding a snake coiled around her arm, with attire suggesting a humble or everyday occupation. Her tired expression and the snake's implied movement convey a sense of realism.
Technique & Style
Characterized by dark, textured rendering and heavy shading, the work reflects late 19th-century French artistic tendencies, emphasizing realism through detailed, lifelike portrayal of the subject's facial expression and the snake's pose.
History & Provenance
Created in 1889 by Louis-Auguste Lepère, a key figure in advancing European wood engraving, the print is currently held in the collection of The Cleveland Museum of Art.
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.
