Jeunesse passe vite vertu!...

About this work

This sketch shows three people walking outdoors. The woman in the center wears a red dress with a patterned shawl and carries a bag. The man next to her holds her arm, and another woman walks ahead, also in a long dress. The background has faint trees and a bridge, drawn lightly. The title at the top reads *"Jeunesse passe vite vertu!"*—it’s French for "Youth passes quickly, virtue!" The lines are rough and the colors are soft, like a quick sketch. The artist used a mix of etching and aquatint, which lets them layer tones smoothly. Try looking up etching to see how artists like Lepère built up shadows and light this way.