1885
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Funérailles de Victor Hugo. La Veillée is a 1885 ink by Auguste Lepère, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This scene shows a huge crowd gathered in a dimly lit space, packed so tightly you can barely see faces. Tall columns and a grand stage with a draped coffin sit in the background, lit by flickering torches. The people in the front hold flowers and candles, while others stand shoulder-to-shoulder, some reaching up to see over the crowd. The artist used sharp lines and shadows to create depth, making the scene feel crowded and urgent. The wood engraving technique gives it a textured, almost sketchy look, like a newspaper illustration from the 1800s. Look up engraving to see how artists carved these detailed scenes into wood.
Louis-Auguste Lepère (30 November 1849 – 20 November 1918) was a French painter and etcher. Lepère is also considered a leader in the creative revival of wood engraving in Europe.
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