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Lagrime (Tears)

Giuseppe Mentessi

1894

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century Allegory

Dominant colour

Lagrime (Tears) is a 1894 ink by Giuseppe Mentessi, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Giuseppe Mentessi
When & what style?: 1894 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a group of people climbing a long, steep set of stone steps. At the top, two figures stand under a dark archway, one holding a bundle. Below, others struggle upward, some bent over, others resting. The steps are rough and uneven, and the whole scene has a grainy, smudged look. The title *Lagrime* (Tears) hints at hardship or effort—maybe the climb symbolizes something bigger. The artist used a mix of etching and wiping to create that rough, textured feel. If you like this style, check out etching next to see how artists build layers with ink and metal plates.