Auguste LepèreFrench, 1849–1918Paris under Snow
Can I see it?
Not on view at present
Where is “Paris under Snow” now? Collection: The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland. Not on view at present. Checked September 29, 2026.
Cleveland, United States
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
About the work
Wood engraving was perfected about 1770 in England by Thomas Bewick (1753–1828). Since the end grain of a hard wood is used, the block can be engraved with a sharp instrument called a burin, making closely set lines possible and producing a great range of textures and tones. The surface of the block is inked and printed so that the engraved lines appear as white areas. The strength of the block meant that numerous impressions could be printed. Wood engraving thus became a principal method for illustrating books and newspapers in the 19th century. Lepère developed an extraordinary mastery of wood engraving, which he used to effectively describe a snowy view of central Paris. The confetti-like snowflakes silhouetted against the dark river, and the overall blurring effect caused by the snowfall in the distance, are a tour de force.
The Cleveland Museum of Art
Details
- Accession number
- 1947.138
In the catalog
Sources
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Image: The Cleveland Museum of Art — Museum open access
