The Triumph of Death: Departure (Le triomphe de la mort: Le depart)
1874
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1874
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This etching shows a chaotic crowd of skeletal figures carrying off a limp body. The scene is dark and swirling, with some figures holding spears or pitchforks. A large, empty coffin looms in the background, and the whole image feels like a storm of movement. The artist used scratching and shading to create deep contrasts, making the scene feel urgent. This style is typical of etchings, where ink is scraped into a metal plate before printing. Next, look up technique: etching to see how artists like Legros built drama with lines.
