1874
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Tree of Salvation (L'arbe de salut) is a 1874 ink by Alphonse Legros, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows two people huddled together under a rough, twisted tree. Their clothes are baggy and worn, and their hands are clasped tightly. The background is dark, with jagged rocks and a crumbling wall, making the scene feel cold and lonely. The artist used sharp, scratchy lines to show texture—notice how the tree bark and fabric look almost three-dimensional. The faces are blurred, focusing attention on their shared body language. Next, look up etching to see how artists like this create such detailed prints.
Alphonse Legros (French pronunciation: ; 8 May 1837 – 8 December 1911) was a French, later British, painter, etcher, sculptor, and medallist.
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