1874
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Hearth (Le foyer) is a 1874 ink by Alphonse Legros, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows three people sitting close together by a fireplace. The room is dim, with heavy curtains framing the scene. One person holds a child, while the others sit wrapped in loose robes, their faces turned slightly toward each other. The lines are rough and scratchy, giving everything a textured, almost urgent feel. The artist used a technique that lets ink fill the carved lines, making the dark shapes pop against the lighter background. It’s like the firelight flickering on their faces—just enough to see their quiet moment. Next, look up etching to see how this scratchy style works.
Alphonse Legros (French pronunciation: ; 8 May 1837 – 8 December 1911) was a French, later British, painter, etcher, sculptor, and medallist.
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