Fern Burners in the Forest Possibly 1887 - 1908

"Fern Burners in the Forest" is a black and white etching by French artist Auguste-Louis Lepère, created sometime between 1887 and 1908. The print depicts a group of figures in a forest setting, engaged in the labor of burning ferns. The scene, rendered in a dark and brooding style, captures the gritty reality of manual labor and the harshness of the natural environment. The work is currently housed in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Lepère's print, with its stark contrasts and atmospheric depth, is a powerful and evocative representation of a forgotten aspect of rural life in late 19th-century France.