Avenue of Poplars (L'allee de peupliers) 

Alphonse Legros made this etching, Avenue of Poplars, using delicate lines to create a serene landscape. The trees form an avenue, inviting the viewer into a tranquil, natural space. Legros uses line and texture to evoke a sense of depth and atmosphere. The bare trees, rendered with fine, wiry lines, reach skyward, their branches creating a rhythmic pattern against the pale sky. The ground is suggested by layered hatching, giving a tactile quality to the scene. This approach to landscape reflects a broader artistic concern with capturing the ephemeral qualities of light and atmosphere, which became important during the late 19th century. Legros captures the essence of the scene with an economy of means, emphasizing the structural elements of the composition. The print invites us to contemplate the relationship between nature and representation, prompting a deeper understanding of the artistic processes involved.