Banks of the Saint-Pre (Rive du Saint-Pre) 

Alphonse Legros created this etching, Banks of the Saint-Pre, using ink on paper, during the late 19th century. The cultural context of 19th-century France was one of significant social and political change. Artists like Legros were reacting to academic traditions by seeking a more direct engagement with the natural world and ordinary people. The etching is a medium well-suited to this sensibility. Legros was part of a broader movement in France that questioned the dominance of the Academy and its rigid standards. Artists, writers and critics explored the themes of realism, naturalism and impressionism, and challenged social conventions. By studying letters, diaries, and exhibition reviews from that time, we can better understand the role of art in reflecting and shaping social values. The meaning of an artwork is not fixed. It evolves as it moves through different social and institutional settings.