Breakfast Preparations 1893

"Breakfast Preparations" is an etching by French artist Auguste-Louis Lepère, created in 1893. The print depicts a simple domestic scene of three figures in a kitchen setting. The viewer looks upon the three figures as they prepare breakfast, the woman in the back is likely cooking while the two children, a boy and a girl, stand and watch. Lepère’s masterful use of line, detail, and light creates a sense of intimacy and warmth within the scene. This artwork is a fine example of the artist’s skill in etching, a technique that involves scratching into a metal plate to create an image. The Art Institute of Chicago houses the artwork, which measures 135 x 198mm (image/plate) and 182 x 239mm (sheet).