1874
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Sleeping Shepherd (Le repos du berger) is a 1874 ink by Alphonse Legros, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a shepherd lying asleep on a hillside, surrounded by bushes and trees. In the distance, a small village with thatched roofs sits on a rise. The lines are rough and textured, giving everything a soft, dreamy feel. The artist used a technique that lets ink spread in patches, making the scene look like it’s half-fading. This was common in the 1800s when artists wanted to show mood over detail. Next, look up etching to see how this printing method works.
Alphonse Legros (French pronunciation: ; 8 May 1837 – 8 December 1911) was a French, later British, painter, etcher, sculptor, and medallist.
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
