Artwork
In the Deluged Marsh - The Shepherd (Au marais inonde - Le berger)
In the Deluged Marsh - The Shepherd (Au marais inonde - Le berger) is an ink print by Auguste Louis Lepère. It dates from 1911 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1911, In the Deluged Marsh – The Shepherd is an etching by French artist Auguste Lepère.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1911, In the Deluged Marsh – The Shepherd is an etching by French artist Auguste Lepère. The print depicts a flood‑ridden landscape where a shepherd navigates a small boat while a woman watches from the bank. Lepère, noted for his contributions to printmaking, employed the medium to explore the tension between human activity and a water‑dominated environment.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a solitary figure steering a boat with a long pole, accompanied by a nearby woman clutching a bundle. Their presence amid rising waters suggests a moment of quiet perseverance against natural forces. The inclusion of a sheep reinforces the pastoral setting, while the inundated terrain underscores themes of vulnerability and adaptation.
Technique & Style
Lepère rendered the scene with delicate, intersecting lines that convey the movement of water and the texture of foliage. The etching’s fine hatching creates subtle tonal variations, allowing the flooded ground to recede behind the figures. This meticulous line work exemplifies early‑20th‑century French printmaking, where precision and atmospheric depth were achieved through controlled incision.
History & Provenance
The work belongs to a period when Lepère was actively reviving traditional print techniques, particularly wood engraving and etching, across Europe. Produced shortly before his death, the piece reflects his mature approach to the medium. It entered public collections in the decades following its creation, illustrating the continued interest in his contributions to French graphic art.
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Artist & collection
Artist
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.
![[Man in a Boat with Three Sheep], by Auguste Louis Lepère](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/auguste-louis-lepere--man-in-a-boat-with-three-sheep--a2529b8e56054b53-w320.webp)
[Man in a Boat with Three Sheep]
Shelter for the Poor, Vendee (Le nid de pauvres, Vendee)
Thames Fishermen
Au Marais Inondé: Le Bergère
The Test at Longparish
Les Deux Bourrines
Thames Fishermen
Landscape with Roller (Le paysage au rouleau)
Poplars near Amiens (Pres d'Amiens, les tourbieres)
Thames Fishermen
Evening- Burial in the Vendeen Marsh (Un enterrement dans le marais Vendeen)