Artwork
The Poacher, Dunes of Saint Jean de Mont
The Poacher, Dunes of Saint Jean de Mont is a print by Auguste Louis Lepère. It dates from 1901 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1949.524
- Credit line
- Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. Prasse Collection
About this work
Overview
Created in 1901 by French artist Auguste Louis Lepère, The Poacher, Dunes of Saint‑Jean‑de‑Mont is a wood‑engraved print held by the Cleveland Museum of Art. The image presents a solitary figure crouched among low vegetation, rifle lowered, against a gently rolling dune landscape under a pale sky.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a man in a hat and coat, positioned as if concealed behind a bush while scanning the horizon. Though equipped with a rifle, his weapon points downward, suggesting a moment of pause rather than active pursuit. The tranquil setting and subdued posture convey a contemplative, perhaps moral, reflection on the act of poaching.
Technique & Style
Lepère employed traditional wood‑engraving methods, rendering the scene with fine line work and a restrained palette of muted tones. Soft, overlapping strokes create atmospheric depth, while meticulous attention to the texture of foliage and clothing gives the print a tactile quality. The overall effect is one of calm realism, characteristic of Lepère’s revival of the medium.
History & Provenance
The print entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection in the early 20th century, though the exact acquisition date is not recorded in the provided material. Lepère’s reputation as a leading figure in the European wood‑engraving revival contributed to the work’s inclusion in the museum’s holdings of early modern prints.
Context
At the turn of the century, Lepère’s work reflected a broader interest in rural life and traditional occupations, aligning with contemporary genre scenes that explored everyday labor. The depiction of a poacher, set within the dunes of Saint‑Jean‑de‑Mont, situates the image within a specific French coastal environment, adding geographic specificity to the universal theme of human interaction with nature.
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.
