The Charleston

1926

Jean-Louis Forain

Associated Names
Jean-Louis Forain

Artist, French, 1852 - 1931

This is a painting of a dance scene in a dimly lit space with tables and people painted with blurred, abstract lines. All of the people have white skin, and most have no facial features, although a few have visible noses and brows. In the middle, two dancers are blurred, in motion, holding each other’s arms. They both appear to wear thin white garments and have brown hair tied in updos. On the right, a figure in a tuxedo holds a round object upwards, perhaps a tambourine or tray. On the left, more people in dark suits sit and stand, watching the dancers. In the center of the room there are more people sitting at white tables, but they are painted with abstract white and brown lines. The background is a pale-yellow ochre color with hints of green and brown, some faint lines suggesting the interior of a room.
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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    oil on canvas

  • Credit Line

    Chester Dale Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall: 60.1 x 73.6 cm (23 11/16 x 29 in.)
    framed: 78.1 x 92.4 x 6.4 cm (30 3/4 x 36 3/8 x 2 1/2 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1963.10.26

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

(Spring Salon, Paris, 16 May 1926, no. 487); purchased by Chester Dale [1882-1962], New York;[1] bequest 1963 to NGA.
[1] Date and source of acquisition according to Chester Dale papers in NGA curatorial files.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1928

  • Loan Exhibition of Modern French Art from the Chester Dale Collection for the Benefit of the French Hospital of New York, Wildenstein Galleries, New York, 1928, no. 7

1931

  • Degas and His Tradition, Museum of French Art, New York, 1931, no. 23

1936

  • Exhibition of Paintings J.L. Forain, Durand-Ruel Galleries, New York, 1936, no. 1

1965

  • The Chester Dale Bequest, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., 1965, unnumbered checklist.

Bibliography

1929

  • Dale, Maud. Before Manet to Modigliani from the Chester Dale Collection. New York, 1929: no. 55, repro.

1965

  • Twentieth Century French Paintings & Sculpture of the French School in the Chester Dale Collection. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1965 (rev. ed.): 32, repro.

  • Summary Catalogue of European Paintings and Sculpture. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1965: 51.

1968

  • National Gallery of Art. European Paintings and Sculpture, Illustrations. Washington, 1968: 43, repro.

1969

  • Wasell, Nancy Michelle. Jean Louis Forain, the Painter. M.A. Thesis, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1969:59, repro.

1975

  • European Paintings: An Illustrated Summary Catalogue. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1975: 130, repro.

1985

  • European Paintings: An Illustrated Catalogue. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1985: 156, repro.

Inscriptions

lower right: forain / 1926

Wikidata ID

Q20192625

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