Fern Burners in the Forest Possibly 1887 - 1908

Auguste-Louis Lepère created this print of “Fern Burners in the Forest,” capturing a scene of rural labor through the medium of etching and engraving. Lepère lived through a period of significant social and political change in France, including the Franco-Prussian War and the rise of industrialization. The print depicts laborers engaged in the practice of burning ferns, likely to clear land for agricultural purposes. The image is evocative, full of smoke and silhouettes that convey the strenuous nature of their work, while also hinting at the environmental impact of their actions. In the late 19th century, debates about land use and the rights of rural workers were becoming more pronounced. Lepère, who often depicted scenes of working-class life, captures the ambiguity of this relationship to the land. How do we reconcile the necessity of labor with the consequences of environmental alteration? This image invites us to consider these questions, rooting them in the daily lives of the workers depicted.