1888
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Wayfarer Surprised by a Storm (Le Voyageur surpris par l'Orage) is a 1888 ink by Alphonse Legros, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a lone person curled up under a tree, wrapped in a coat like a shield. The branches twist sharply around them, and the ground looks rough with scattered sticks. Rain or wind blurs the edges of the scene, making everything feel wild and unstable. The artist used sharp lines to show how the person is struggling—notice how the coat’s folds and the tree’s bark are drawn with quick, urgent strokes. This isn’t a smooth painting; it’s all about texture and movement, like the scene was sketched fast. Next, look up etching to see how artists like this one carve images into metal plates.
Alphonse Legros (French pronunciation: ; 8 May 1837 – 8 December 1911) was a French, later British, painter, etcher, sculptor, and medallist.
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