Beautiful Autumn Morning 1910

Curator: This is Auguste-Louis Lepère’s "Beautiful Autumn Morning," created in 1910. It's an etching and pencil sketch printed on paper, currently residing here at The Art Institute of Chicago. Editor: It's got this hushed, almost melancholic feeling. The delicate lines create a sort of hazy atmosphere, a far cry from what I’d expect from such a supposedly bright morning. Curator: The subdued atmosphere you observe is achieved through Lepère's distinctive manipulation of the etching process. Lepère was extremely influential as president of the Société de la Gravure sur Bois Originale, helping push printmaking into fine art circles in France. He championed the use of wood engraving, traditionally associated with reproductive prints and commercial art. Editor: It’s funny how the societal perception of a medium can elevate or diminish it, isn’t it? When you look at the quality of line here and the layering to create depth in this little grove, it feels less “reproduced” and more hand-wrought. I’m thinking of the ink, the acid baths on the plate, the pressure of the press, how this whole labor-intensive act seems to imbue the image with a tangible presence. Curator: Absolutely, and the landscape style in Lepère’s prints like this one became a mode through which social and political statements about contemporary French life could be expressed. It allowed artists like Lepère to engage with modern subjects while also engaging a deep sense of history. Rural life, especially depictions of the working classes within landscape settings, had long been associated with populist political sentiments. Editor: And I suppose viewers with a strong appreciation for working in a field may respond to how the laborers at the heart of this quiet scene are depicted within nature. Lepère hasn’t placed these figures on a pedestal, mind you; the rough, somewhat messy etching shows them just working away at their craft. Curator: The image is far from glorifying, but its existence gives rural working folk their due cultural importance and appreciation at a time when such subjects weren't always at the fore in "high art." Editor: Thinking about the process involved and the statement the work makes makes it feel far more vibrant, despite the grey tones. Thank you! Curator: It is crucial to examine these works critically; otherwise, important figures such as Lepère would fall into obscurity.