Pollard Poplars 1910

Auguste-Louis Lepère created “Pollard Poplars” using etching, drypoint, and roulette. Lepère lived through the Franco-Prussian War and both World Wars, periods of intense national identity formation. His work often navigates the complexities of French identity and the impact of modernity on rural life. In this print, Lepère depicts a bucolic scene with a mother and child in the foreground of a simple cottage and row of trees. The figures seem at rest. The careful rendering of light and shadow enhances the sense of tranquility. Yet, this seemingly idyllic scene is complicated. Lepère was deeply engaged in the debates about industrialization and its effects on the French countryside. "Pollard Poplars" reflects a nostalgia for a pre-industrial past, even as it acknowledges the inevitable changes brought about by modernity. Lepère’s artistic choices reflect a desire to preserve a certain image of rural France, one that is deeply connected to the land and the family. The print, therefore, serves as both a celebration and a lament, capturing the beauty of the natural world. It's a poignant meditation on what is gained and lost in the relentless march of progress.