Behind the Scenes

c. 1880

Jean-Louis Forain

Associated Names
Jean-Louis Forain

Artist, French, 1852 - 1931

This painting shows two people. A woman is seen from the knees up in the center, standing partially in front of the man next to her, her body facing the left and her head turned back towards us. She has pale skin, dark eyebrows, and a thin red mouth in a slight smile. She seems to be looking downward. Her dark hair is styled behind her head with a pink flower. She wears a seafoam-green dress with thin straps, a wide, square neckline, a small waist, and a puffed skirt. She has a gold bracelet on one wrist and a brown belt around her thin waist. Her hands are clasped in front of her, resting on her skirt. A man is behind her on the right, wearing a black suit with a white shirt, black bow tie, and a top hat. He has light skin, prominent cheekbones, gray hair, a gray mustache, and a pointed gray beard. The background is divided by a vertical line; the right side behind the man is dark brown, while the left side is a colorful, abstract scene including greens, blues, reds, and pinks, giving the impression of a leafy garden. The woman stands in front of this dividing line.

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    oil on canvas

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall: 46.4 x 38.4 cm (18 1/4 x 15 1/8 in.)
    framed: 55.25 x 63.18 x 6.67 cm (21 3/4 x 24 7/8 x 2 5/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1943.11.4

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Probably acquired 1930 from (Charles Sessler, Philadelphia) by Lessing J. Rosenwald [1891-1979], Jenkintown, PA;[1] gift 1943 to NGA.
[1] According to Rosenwald papers in NGA Gallery Archives, pertinent copies in NRA curatorial records.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1881

  • Possibly Le 6me Exposition de Peinture [Sixth Impressionist Exhibition], Paris, 1881, no. 20, as Au théâtre.

1932

  • Forain: The Collection of Lessing J. Rosenwald, The Pennsylvania Museum of Art, Philadelphia, 1932, no. 8, as Dans la Coulisse.

1982

  • Manet and Modern Paris, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., 1982-1983, no. 38, repro.

1986

  • Degas and His Friends, The Dixon Gallery and Gardens, Memphis, 1986, no. 18, repro.

1987

  • Extended loan for use by The Supreme Court of the United States, Washington, D.C., 1987-1998.

1999

  • Around Impressionism: French Paintings from the National Gallery of Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1999, no cat.

  • Masterpieces from the National Gallery of Art, Washington, Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art; Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, 1999, no. 25, repro.

2002

  • Degas, Forain and Toulouse-Lautrec: Images of Dancers, The Dixon Gallery and Gardens, Memphis, 2002-2003, unnumbered checklist.

2006

  • Impressions of Modern Life: French Painting of the Late 19th Century, Portland Museum of Art, 2006, no cat.

2008

  • The Dancer: Degas, Forain, and Toulouse-Lautrec, Portland (Oregon) Art Museum, 2008, unnumbered catalogue, pls. 23, 70, and 103.

2013

  • Intimate Impressionism from the National Gallery of Art, Museo dell'Ara Pacis Augustae, Rome (exhibition title in this venue: Impressionist Gems); California Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco; McNay Art Museum, San Antonio; Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, Tokyo, Seattle Art Museum, 2013-2016, pl. 35.

Bibliography

1933

  • Youtz, Philip. "Forain, Artist and Journalist." American Magazine of Art XXVI (Feb 1933):87.

1965

  • 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.

1975

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

1984

  • Walker, John. National Gallery of Art, Washington. Rev. ed. New York, 1984: 483, no. 710, color repro.

1985

  • European Paintings: An Illustrated Catalogue. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1985: 155, repro.

Inscriptions

lower left: forain

Wikidata ID

Q20188859

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