Léon Lhermitte

Léon Augustin Lhermitte was a French painter and etcher known for his realistic and empathetic portrayals of rural life and peasant subjects. Born in Mont-Saint-Père, France, Lhermitte studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and was influenced by the Barbizon School painters as well as the Realist movement. He became renowned for his skilful renderings of farm labourers, fieldworkers, and pastoral landscapes, often depicting them with a keen eye for detail and a deep sense of humanity. Lhermitte's works are characterised by their rich tonal palette, dramatic use of light and shadow, and meticulous attention to the everyday lives of his subjects.