The Little Bridge
Medium
Etching on cream wove paper
Dimensions
Image: 12.3 × 20.5 cm (4 7/8 × 8 1/8 in.); Plate: 13.7 × 21.2 cm (5 7/16 × 8 3/8 in.); Sheet: 22.9 × 27.9 cm (9 1/16 × 11 in.)
Classification
etching
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
46345
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
**The Little Bridge** is a delicate etching created by French artist Louis Auguste Lepère in 3, capturing the charm of everyday architecture during the waning years of the Belle Époque Lepère (1849–1918), a master printmaker renowned for his intricate depictions of Parisian streets, bridges, and landscapes, drew from his deep observation of urban life. This work, printed on cream wove paper, exemplifies skill in rendering subtle textures and atmospheric depth, inviting viewers to linger on the humble beauty of a small bridge—likely a quiet Parisian or provincial scene. Etching, Lepère's preferred medium, involves incising lines into a metal plate with acid, allowing for precise, expressive lines that mimic drawing. The modest image size (12.3 × 20.5 cm) belies its technical sophistication, with the plate and sheet margins enhancing its intimate, collectible appeal. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings department, it reflects the early 20th-century revival of original prints as accessible art forms, bridging fine art and reproduction. This piece offers a window into pre-World War I France, where Lepère's realistic yet poetic style celebrated the ordinary amid rapid modernization. A perfect gem for print enthusiasts, it reminds us how a simple bridge can symbolize connection and tranquility.
About the Artist
Louis Auguste Lepère · 1849–1918
Louis-Auguste Lepère (1849–1918) was born in Paris on November 30 to the sculptor François Lepère, immersing him early in the artistic world. At age thirteen, he apprenticed in the studio of the English wood engraver Joseph Burn-Smeeton, training there from 1862 to 1867, and later attended drawing courses under Horace Lecoq de Boisbaudran at the Petite École (now École nationale supérieure des art...