1890
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Dominant colour
Unloaders of Plaster (Canal St. Martin) is a 1890 by Auguste Lepère, a Impressionism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This black-and-white drawing shows a busy canal scene. Two men are unloading heavy plaster blocks from a barge onto the dock. Behind them, a row of buildings lines the water, with people working or resting along the edge. The artist used quick, sketchy lines to show movement and texture. Notice how the dark shadows on the men’s faces and the bright light on the plaster create contrast. This helps draw your eye to their hard work. If you like this style, look up Realism next—it focuses on everyday life like this.
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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