Au bord de la Seine - Auguste Louis Lepère

A refined 1886 etching by Auguste Louis Lepère, depicting two figures in a boat on the Seine with delicate line work and atmospheric detail.

Auguste Louis Lepère, a master of the graphic arts, produced this etching in 1886. The work captures a quiet moment on the Seine, focusing on two figures in a small rowing boat. Lepère demonstrates his technical command of the medium through the varied application of line and cross-hatching, which defines the forms of the boat and the figures against the reflective surface of the water. The background, rendered with lighter, more atmospheric strokes, suggests the industrial and urban periphery of Paris, providing a sense of scale and distance.

Lepère was a significant figure in the revival of original printmaking in France during the late nineteenth century. His approach to etching often involved a direct observation of daily life, moving away from purely reproductive engraving. In this piece, the artist balances the weight of the foreground boat with the soft, hazy treatment of the distant riverbank. The composition relies on the horizontal orientation of the river to guide the viewer's eye across the scene. The subtle variations in tone, achieved through the density of the etched lines, create a sense of depth without relying on heavy shadows. This print reflects the artist's interest in the changing character of the Parisian outskirts, where the natural environment met the encroaching industrialisation of the era. The work remains a fine example of the period's dedication to capturing the nuances of light and atmosphere through the disciplined medium of the copper plate.