Departure from Greenwich. Scene on deck of Thames passenger vessel

An accomplished and atmospheric etching focusing on the figure of a dark-clad, smartly dressed lady in a hat, with an equally well-dressed and lively small girl restrained on her knee, on the side bench of a Thames passenger steamer at Greenwich Pier, at low tide. Other animated figures on the floating pontoon behind, and on the steps up to the top of the Pier contrast with that of a sleeping man slouched in bowler hat and coat on the right. The technique includes drypoint.

Lepere (1849-1918) was a renowned and innovative French printmaker whose graphic oeuvre includes over 150 etchings, 200 wood engravings and 14 lithographs. He normally treated scenes of everyday life, landscapes and city views.