A French painter and etcher, Auguste Lepère was also the undisputed leader in the etching revival in Europe during the second half of the nineteenth century. He began his studies in Paris as a young boy and by the mid 1870s, he had clearly emerged as one of the most renowned printmakers of his time. In both etching and wood engraving, he became known as the prime graphic artist of scenes from everyday life. He also experimented with such innovative techniques as combining etching and wood engraving in the same print.