Falling Pines Possibly 1908

Auguste-Louis Lepère created "Falling Pines," an etching now held at the Art Institute of Chicago. Lepère, working during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, situated himself amidst debates about industrialization, the changing rural landscape, and the representation of labor. Here, the lone figure of a lumberjack stands at the edge of a forest, almost dwarfed by the towering pines. Lepère masterfully uses the etching technique to create a sense of depth and atmosphere. The dark, dense trees contrast with the light filtering through, evoking the physical labor of the man but also his relationship to nature. The felling of trees suggests themes of exploitation and transformation, and the tension between man and nature. Lepère prompts us to consider the emotional and social dimensions of the changing world around us, and the place of working people within it.